Cassie Ventura's lawyer has spoken out after Sean 'Diddy' Combs was found not guilty of three major charges.
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Combs has been found guilty on two counts in his federal sex-trafficking trial while being acquitted of three others.
The Manhattan federal jury of eight men and four women found the rapper:
- Not guilty of Count 1: Racketeering conspiracy
- Not guilty of Count 2: Sex trafficking of Cassie Ventura
- Guilty of Count 3: Transportation for prostitution of Cassie and others
- Not guilty of Count 4: Sex trafficking of Jane
- Guilty of Count 5: Transportation for prostitution of Jane and others
Jane is a victim who did not want to use her name during the trial.
After deliberating for 13 hours over three days, the jury delivered the mixed verdict on Tuesday (July 1), following seven weeks of testimony that included 34 witnesses, video evidence, and emotional accounts from Combs’ ex-partner Cassie Ventura and others who accused him of repeated abuse.
As the verdict was read, Combs sat stoically, staring ahead before making a praying hands gesture toward the jury in a sign of thanks, Sky News reported.
Per the Guardian, Judge Arun Subramanian praised the jury for their “sacrifice,” stating: “I want you to know that it is inspiring to all of us.
"You listened, you worked together, you were here every day, rain or shine. You did so with no reward, other than the reward that comes from answering the call of public service. That should give all of us hope.”
Cassie, who was in an on-and-off relationship with Combs from 2007 to 2018, spent four days testifying at the start of the trial, alleging she had been coerced into “freak-off” sex sessions with male sex workers and subjected to violence throughout their relationship.
It was Ventura’s civil lawsuit, filed in November 2023 and settled within 24 hours, that appeared to spark the criminal case against Combs.
In the trial, Ventura testified that Combs forced her into days-long, drug-fueled “freak-offs” with male prostitutes, sometimes recorded by Combs, and that these encounters took place in Combs’ homes, her homes, and hotel suites worldwide.
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She described how Combs would find escorts on Craigslist, paying them between $1,500 to $6,000, and recounted a 2013 incident where Combs allegedly kicked her off a yacht at the Cannes Film Festival after accusing her of drug use, later threatening to release explicit videos to control her.
Ventura also described a 2016 incident where Combs was caught on camera assaulting her in a Los Angeles hotel.
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Following the verdict, Cassie’s lawyer, Douglas H Wigdor, released a statement per Sky News: “This entire criminal process started when our client Cassie Ventura had the courage to file her civil complaint in November 2023.”
“Although the jury did not find Combs guilty of sex trafficking Cassie beyond a reasonable doubt, she paved the way for a jury to find him guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution.”
“By coming forward with her experience, Cassie has left an indelible mark on both the entertainment industry and the fight for justice.”
Wigdor praised Ventura, who testified heavily pregnant just three weeks before giving birth, saying she displayed “unquestionable strength” and “brought attention to the realities of powerful men in our orbit.”
“We must repeat, with no reservation, that we believe and support our client, who showed exemplary courage throughout this trial.”