Cassie is a central figure in the opening statements of Sean "Diddy" Combs’ federal sex-crimes trial. The trial, which officially commenced on May 12th, saw Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Johnson present the government’s case against Combs. He faces five counts encompassing charges of sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to engage in prostitution, to which he has pleaded not guilty.
The prosecution’s opening argument painted a stark picture of Combs as a controlling and powerful individual who allegedly coerced a young and impressionable artist into a complex and often violent romantic relationship. Johnson emphasized that Cassie was only 19 years old when she first met Combs, who was 17 years her senior. The prosecution alleges that Combs dangled the promise of a lucrative 10-album record deal before her, but while she diligently recorded music, he maintained absolute control over what she was ultimately allowed to release to the public.
According to the prosecution, the relationship initially presented as a professional musical partnership quickly deteriorated. Cassie began dating Combs in 2007, embarking on an on-again, off-again relationship that spanned over a decade. Cassie, known for her hit song "Me & U" which was the lead single from her self-titled debut album, later filed a lawsuit against Combs. Her suit alleged that their professional and romantic relationship took a dark turn as Combs purportedly coerced her into sexual activity and subjected her to physical abuse.
During the opening statements on May 12th, Johnson detailed an incident in 2009 when Combs allegedly threw Cassie to the floor of an SUV and "stomped repeatedly on her face." Johnson indicated that Cassie will testify about another disturbing incident during the trial, in which she claims Combs forced another escort to urinate in her mouth.
Johnson stated that Cassie initially entered into Combs’ "freak offs" reluctantly but did so because she "loved" Combs and "wanted to make him happy." These "freak offs," as described by the prosecution, were allegedly days-long sexual performances orchestrated by Combs involving illicit substances and commercial sex workers. The prosecution intends to present testimony from some of the escorts who participated in these events, one of whom reportedly witnessed Combs dragging Cassie by her hair at a "freak off."
Johnson further stated that "the defendant beat (Cassie) viciously," whether it was because she took too long in the bathroom, missed his calls, or left a "freak off" early. The prosecution argued that Combs wielded immense power over Cassie’s career and livelihood and allegedly threatened to release videos of her with "dozens and dozens of male escorts." According to Johnson, Combs "had the power to ruin her life," and for Cassie, the videos were "souvenirs of the most humiliating nights of her life." The prosecution asserts that her livelihood and safety depended on keeping Combs satisfied. The prosecution also noted that both Combs and Cassie were "unfaithful and jealous," but "only one had power." This imbalance of power is expected to be a crucial element of the prosecution’s case.
In contrast, the defense team is expected to portray Cassie as equally violent towards Combs, potentially undermining the prosecution’s narrative of coercion and control. The prosecution also plans to call witnesses who can corroborate Cassie’s claims of assault and injuries. Johnson concluded her opening statement by urging the jurors to "please use and trust your common sense."
In the defense team’s opening statement, Combs’ lawyer, Teny Geragos, argued that Cassie became jealous when she realized she would never become Combs’ wife. Geragos attempted to cast doubt on the prosecution’s central argument, stating, "Regret does not mean coerced." Geragos insisted that "every woman in this case had ‘free choice,’" arguing that the "freak-off" videos were intended to be "intimate" and "not intended to be seen by people outside that room." Geragos admitted that the case involves Combs’ "personal, private sex life," and even conceded that he has "sometimes been violent." Geragos acknowledged that "Sean Combs has a temper" but added, "My client is not proud of that."
The defense strategy seems to hinge on downplaying Combs’ behavior as consensual, or as private matters not warranting federal intervention.
The hotel video from 2016 featuring Combs physically assaulting Cassie, which the defense team unsuccessfully attempted to exclude from the evidence list, was a significant point of discussion in the prosecution’s opening statement. The defense team plans to present their own clips of the incident, separate from the version that was widely circulated after CNN released it in 2024. The prosecution asserted that Combs’ inner circle paid one of the security guards $100,000 in cash for the video.
In response, the defense team claimed that Combs was "not trying to obstruct justice" but rather to protect both himself and Cassie from "bad publicity." Johnson also described an episode in which Combs allegedly broke into the house of a man who was seeing Ventura with a gun and a bodyguard with the intent to kill. Although no one was home at the time, Combs later located Ventura and "beat her brutally," flinging "her around like a rag doll," according to Johnson.
Ventura filed a lawsuit against Combs in November 2023, alleging that she was trafficked, raped, and viciously beaten by her former partner over the course of a decade. Combs and Cassie reached a settlement one day later. The case was civil rather than criminal, owing to a temporary legal loophole created by the city of New York. The defense team seized upon this fact, arguing that it was a "money grab" since civil suits result in financial damages but not imprisonment.
The trial promises to be a contentious battle, with both sides presenting starkly different accounts of the relationship between Combs and Cassie. The outcome will likely depend on the jurors’ assessment of the credibility of the witnesses and the persuasiveness of the legal arguments presented.
