- Sean “Diddy” Combs is facing serious criminal charges.
- His legal team plans to argue that Cassie Ventura, his former partner, was involved in mutual acts of violence during their relationship.
- The defense strategy aims to highlight shared responsibility in their interactions.
Sean “Diddy” Combs, the prominent American music executive facing serious criminal charges, is set to argue that his former partner, singer Cassie Ventura, was also involved in mutual acts of violence during their relationship, according to his legal team.
On May 5, Combs appeared at a federal courthouse in Manhattan as jury selection began in his ongoing sex trafficking and racketeering case. He has pleaded not guilty to multiple charges, including racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transporting individuals for prostitution.
During a pre-trial hearing, Combs’ attorney, Marc Agnifilo, informed Judge Arun Subramanian that the defense intends to introduce evidence suggesting Cassie was also physically aggressive during their time together. Cassie is expected to testify for the prosecution.
Agnifilo argued that if Cassie has a documented history of violence, it could challenge the narrative that she was solely a victim. “We’ll likely characterize this as domestic violence,” he told the court.
Judge Subramanian, however, remained cautious about allowing this line of argument and said he would decide on its admissibility before opening statements, which are scheduled to begin Monday.
This development comes after a disturbing video from 2016 surfaced in May 2024, appearing to show Combs assaulting Cassie in a hotel hallway. Following the video’s release, Combs publicly admitted to the attack. Cassie later accused him of rape, abuse, and trafficking during their decade-long relationship, though that lawsuit was settled out of court.
In the aftermath, Combs has faced a growing number of sexual assault allegations, reportedly involving more than 120 alleged victims — men, women, and even minors. Among the claims is a case involving a man who said he was drugged and assaulted by Combs as a minor, alongside other accusations spanning from 2019 to 2022.
The hip-hop mogul was arrested in New York City on September 16, 2024, and formally charged by prosecutors in the Southern District of New York. If convicted, he could face a life sentence for racketeering, along with a mandatory minimum of 15 years for the trafficking charges.
