A shocking video released Friday that purports to show multiply accused sexual assailant Sean Combs assaulting his former girlfriend, Cassie Venturawill not be used to charge the mogul with domestic violence, prosecutors have acknowledged.
According to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, although the footage is “extremely disturbing and difficult to watch,” the incident depicted appears to fall outside California’s five-year statute of limitations, which means he can’t be charged for that attack— but they’re not ruling out charges for any other, more timely crimes.
The video, which was first published by CNN, shows a man the outlet identifies as Sean Combs (who also goes by “Diddy”) kicking, shoving, and striking Ventura during a stay at a hotel CNN says is the InterContinental Hotel in LA’s Century City. (That hotel temporarily closed in March 2020, a shutter that was made permanent a year later.) vanity fair has reached out to representatives for Combs for comment, but has not received a response as of publication time.
Compiled from hotel security video dated March 5, 2016, the footage appears to reflect an incident described in Ventura’s lawsuit against Combs, which also accused him of rape and sexual assault. Ventura, a model and singer who met Combs when she was 19 and he was 37, was in a relationship with the mogul between 2007 – 2018. She filed suit against Combs in federal court in November 2023, saying then that Combs had paid hotel staff $50,000 for the video evidence of the alleged assault.
A day after filing that suit, it was settled for an unknown figure. Combs continued to deny Ventura’s claims against him, however, saying through attorney Ben Brafman that the musician “has been subjected to Ms. Ventura’s persistent demand of $30 million, under the threat of writing a damaging book about their relationship, which was unequivocally rejected as blatant blackmail.”
“Despite withdrawing her initial threat, Ms. Ventura has now resorted to filing a lawsuit riddled with baseless and outrageous lies, aiming to tarnish Mr. Combs’ reputation and seeking a payday,” he continued. Ventura’s attorney, Douglas Wigdorquickly shot back, saying “Mr. Combs offered Ms. Ventura eight figures to silence her and prevent the filing of this lawsuit. She rejected his efforts and decided to give a voice to all women who suffer in silence. Ms. Ventura should be applauded for her bravery.”
Following the settlement, Brafman reiterated his client’s claims of innocence, saying that “A decision to settle a lawsuit, especially in 2023, is in no way an admission of wrongdoing. Mr. Combs’ decision to settle the lawsuit does not in any way undermine his flat-out denial of the claims. He is happy they got to a mutual settlement and wishes Ms. Ventura the best.”
Since Ventura’s suit, a number of other women have come forward with allegations against Combs, all of whom he denies. “I have sat silently and watched people try to assassinate my character, destroy my reputation and my legacy,” Combs said in late 2023. “Sickening allegations have been made against me by individuals looking for a quick payday. Let me be absolutely clear: I did not do any of the awful things being alleged. “I will fight for my name, my family and for the truth.”
Despite those denials, federal agents raided Combs’s Los Angeles and Miami homes in March, as part of an investigation into allegations of human trafficking. According to ABC News, law enforcement “found guns in both locations and seized multiple electronic devices as federal prosecutors in New York work to corroborate allegations of sexual assault and sex trafficking against Combs.” Citing the “ongoing investigation,” a spokesperson with the Department of Homeland Security declined to give an update on the case. As of publication time, Combs has not been charged as a result of those raids, and he’s continued to deny all wrongdoing.
