The Los Angeles District Attorney's Office has confirmed that it is unable to bring charges against Sean "Diddy" Combs for violently assaulting his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, in 2016. The office of DA George Gascón called the clip "disturbing and difficult to watch," but explained that the attack occurred beyond the timeline where a crime of assault can be prosecuted. California state law states that the statute of limitations for simple assault is one year, while aggravated assault is three years.
The statement came after CNN published surveillance clips featuring Combs and Ventura, who were in an off-and-on relationship between 2007 and 2018. Ventura filed a federal lawsuit in November, alleging that Combs forced her into various acts with male sex workers, plied her with drugs, and recorded some of the encounters. When she finally tried to end things in 2018, Combs raped her in her L.A. home.
The lawsuit also outlined an incident with details that appear to line up with what’s shown in the newly released hotel footage. In or around March 2016, Combs became extremely intoxicated and punched Ventura in the face, giving her a black eye. Combs paid the hotel $50,000 for the security footage from the incident. A day after the suit was filed, Ventura revealed she and her ex-boyfriend had reached a settlement in the case. Former CIA and FBI special agent Tracy Walder told People the suit was settled "so quickly" all because of that surveillance video.
Multiple women, as well as male producer Rodney Jones, have since claimed they too had been victims of Combs' sexual harassment, sexual assault, and drugging.
The statement came after CNN published surveillance clips featuring Combs and Ventura, who were in an off-and-on relationship between 2007 and 2018. Ventura filed a federal lawsuit in November, alleging that Combs forced her into various acts with male sex workers, plied her with drugs, and recorded some of the encounters. When she finally tried to end things in 2018, Combs raped her in her L.A. home.
The lawsuit also outlined an incident with details that appear to line up with what’s shown in the newly released hotel footage. In or around March 2016, Combs became extremely intoxicated and punched Ventura in the face, giving her a black eye. Combs paid the hotel $50,000 for the security footage from the incident. A day after the suit was filed, Ventura revealed she and her ex-boyfriend had reached a settlement in the case. Former CIA and FBI special agent Tracy Walder told People the suit was settled "so quickly" all because of that surveillance video.
Multiple women, as well as male producer Rodney Jones, have since claimed they too had been victims of Combs' sexual harassment, sexual assault, and drugging.
