Cassie Ventura Cries During Emotional Testimony

Tuesday was the second day of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal sex trafficking and racketeering trial in New York City, testimony centered on Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, Combs’ former girlfriend, who took the witness stand for over six hours. 

The trial, in Manhattan, is addressing charges against Combs, including racketeering conspiracy, two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. Combs has pleaded not guilty.

Key Points from Cassie Ventura’s Testimony:

• Physical Abuse: Ventura, 38 and eight months pregnant, detailed a decade of violent behavior from Combs during their on-and-off relationship from 2007 to 2018. She testified that arguments often led to physical abuse, including Combs bashing her head, giving her black eyes and bruises. She recounted specific incidents, such as Combs hitting her and dragging her by her hair.
• “Freak Offs”: Ventura described being coerced into participating in “freak offs,” drug-fueled sexual encounters involving male escorts, which Combs allegedly orchestrated and directed. She said these events fulfilled Combs’ voyeuristic fantasies, with him instructing her and escorts on specific acts, including applying baby oil (ten large bottles per event) and sometimes recording the encounters. Ventura identified escorts by names or nicknames like “The Punisher” and noted some were flown to cities like Los Angeles, Miami, and Las Vegas. She testified that Combs’ directions included role-playing scenarios and that she felt humiliated but participated to please him.
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  Drug Use: Ventura admitted to using drugs like ecstasy, marijuana, ketamine, and mushrooms during “freak offs” to disassociate, as she could not imagine participating otherwise. She said Combs encouraged her to continue despite vomiting from ecstasy, and drugs were supplied by his security or assistants.
• 2016 Hotel Incident: Ventura provided context for a March 5, 2016, incident at the InterContinental Hotel in Century City, Los Angeles, where CCTV footage, played in court the previous day, showed Combs attacking her. She testified that she attempted to leave a “freak off,” prompting Combs to follow her into the hallway, shove her to the ground, kick her, and drag her back to the room. This occurred days before her movie premiere for A Perfect Match, and she worried about visible injuries but participated in the “freak off” hoping to appease Combs.

Ventura described feeling “insane” when Combs began recording “freak offs” and said the experiences were degrading. She recalled an instance where she tried to leave Combs, trembling and seeking comfort from an escort, Daniel Phillip, who questioned why she stayed.

Daniel Phillip: The prosecution’s second witness from May 12, a male revue manager, concluded his testimony early on Tuesday under cross-examination. Phillip had described being paid up to $6,000 per encounter starting in 2012 to have sex with Ventura while Combs watched, often directing the acts and recording. Combs’ defense attorney Xavier Donaldson pressed Phillip on details of his first encounter at the Gramercy Park Hotel, suggesting Ventura appeared to enjoy herself. Phillip’s testimony included graphic accounts of Combs’ voyeuristic behavior and an incident where he witnessed Combs assaulting Ventura.

Ventura’s testimony was emotional, with prosecutors, led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Johnson, emphasizing Combs’ control and coercion. The defense, represented by attorneys like Teny Geragos and Marc Agnifilo, maintained that the “freak offs” were consensual and part of a “swinger’s lifestyle,” arguing that domestic violence, which they acknowledged, does not equate to sex trafficking