CNN’s recent security footage display seems to reveal Sean “Diddy” Combs punching singer Cassie in a hotel hallway in Los Angeles back in 2016. This shocking admission is the latest in the long line of allegations against the hip hop billionaire which he faces for alleged physical and sexual violence.
The footage, played on Friday, portrays Combs, dressed in nothing but towel, striking Cassie, his protégée and girlfriend. The vexing video illustrates him hitting and kicking her, in addition to pushing, dragging and throwing the vase at her.
This video, dated March 5, 2016, showed the scene that very much matched the description of the incident that happened at the InterContinental Hotel in Century City in the lawsuit that was filed by Cassie in November. According to Cassie, whose real name is Cassandra Ventura, Combs physically and sexually abused her for a long time in the lawsuit.
Reports say that Combs paid the hotel $50,000 to secure the video footage. CNN did not disclose how it sourced the video but managed to verify the location by matching the footage to publicly available images of the hotel. Although the lawsuit was settled the day after it was filed but it has resulted in more lawsuits and a federal criminal sex-trafficking investigation which led to raids of Combs’ properties in Los Angeles and Miami.
Combs’ agents have not reacted to the video, though he (allegedly) previously denied all accusations and promised to prove his innocence through his lawyers.
“The video confirms Mr. Combs prejudices and predatory conduct according to Douglas Wigdor, Cassie’s lawyer, who also filed other lawsuits against Combs,” he said. “Ms. Ventura has demonstrated extraordinary courage in coming out with the truth.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office has commented about the video, “the images are extremely disturbing and hard to watch” yet they have mentioned that they cannot file the charges because the incident happened in 2016 and no case has been presented before them. They motivated anyone who has been a victim or a witness to report to the law enforcement agencies.
However, the woman knows as Cassie, who has come out publicly, narrated in her suit that, Combs got drunk earlier that same day and hit her on the eye, giving her a black eye. From the beginning of the video, it is seen that she was trying to leave the hotel with a full bag when his partner was sleeping. Combs at last wakes up, yells at her, chases her down the hall, where he physically abuses, kicks, and hurls vases at her.
Even though Cassie escaped, she felt that there was damage if she didn’t go back. Hotel staff insisted she go to her apartment and eventually hid with a girlfriend in Florida. According to the lawsuit, Combs allegedly paid $50,000 for the security footage.
Concerning the statutes of limitations for assault or battery in California, the criminal charges brought against Combs are highly unlikely. The statutes can be anywhere from one to three years depending if the charges are misdemeanors or felonies.
The video’s release comes after Combs’ legal team attempts to refute the claims that have arisen since November. They just filed motions to dismiss 1991 sexual assault and 2003 rape allegations and saying those accusations are false.
On the night of March 25, Homeland Security Investigations raided Combs’ homes in both Los Angeles and Miami as part of a sex-trafficking probe. Combs’ lawyer called the raids a “gross use of military-level force. ” The investigation is still ongoing, but no charges yet have been filed against Combs.
A three-time Grammy winner and founder of Bad Boys Records, Combs has occupied positions in hip-hop for more than three decades, expanding onto business ventures like private-label spirits, fashion, and a TV network. Nevertheless, he has relinquished some business responsibilities in the light of the accusations. Their relationship dated back to 2007 between him and Cassie which lasted over a decade.