What we know now about Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ pre-trial court appearance
Sean “Diddy” Combs was in court for a pre-trial hearing in his federal sex crimes case. What was decided in today’s hearing? Here is what we know now.
The much talked about video that allegedly shows Sean “Diddy” Combs beating, kicking and dragging his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura will be allowed to be included in his upcoming trial, a judge ruled today.
In a pre-trial hearing on April 25, lawyers for Combs, who is facing federal sex crimes charges, put in a motion to exclude a 2016 surveillance video obtained by CNN from evidence.
The video, which the “Bad Boy Records” founder has since apologized for, shows him clad in a bath towel and running down a hotel hallway toward Ventura before he strikes her, throws her to the ground and kicks her twice at a now-closed luxury hotel in Los Angeles. He then grabs her to drag her down the hallway. The video also shows Diddy throwing what appears to be a vase.
In court documents filed earlier this month, lawyers for Combs argued that, per a forensic specialist they hired, the video was condensed and not able to “create an accurate version,” of events, therefore distorting the incident.
Diddy on Trial newsletter: Step inside the courtroom with USA TODAY as Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs faces sex crimes and trafficking charges. Subscribe to the newsletter.
The judge in the case denied their request, saying the video was a “fair and accurate” depiction, and that there are two witnesses who authenticated video. Lawyers for the government were able to have video slowed down so it’s clearer and will be able to show it to jurors during the trial set to kick off May 5.
The April 25 pre-conference sets the stage for the much-anticipated trial as Diddy stares down life in prison.
Combs now faces two counts of sex trafficking, two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution and one count of racketeering ahead of his trial. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges and maintained his innocence in response to dozens of sexual assault lawsuits, which detail alleged events dating back to the 1990s, that have been filed over the past 1½ years.
Racketeering is the participation in an illegal scheme under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Statute, or RICO, as a way for the U.S. government to prosecute organizations contributing to criminal activity.
Using RICO law, which is typically aimed at targeting multi-person criminal organizations, prosecutors allege that Combs coerced victims, some of whom they say were sex workers, through intimidation and narcotics to participate in “freak offs” — sometimes dayslong sex performances that federal prosecutors claim they have video of.
Contributing: Brendan Morrow, KiMi Robinson
Leave a Reply