LA District Attorney says they can’t prosecute Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs over video of him beating Cassie Ventura
Music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs can’t be prosecuted for horrific footage which appears to show him assaulting Cassie Ventura — because the incident took place too long ago, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office said.
In the March 5, 2016 footage obtained by CNN, the rapper apparently grabs his then-girlfriend Ventura by the neck and kicks her multiple times.
“If the conduct depicted occurred in 2016, unfortunately we would be unable to charge as the conduct would have occurred beyond the timeline where a crime of assault can be prosecuted,” the office of LA District Attorney George Gascón shared on Instagram late Friday.
Under California state law, the statute of limitations for simple and felony assault is one year and three years, respectively.
“As of today, law enforcement has not presented a case related to the attack depicted in the video against Mr. Combs, but we encourage anyone who has been a victim or witness to a crime to report it to law enforcement or reach out to our office for support from our Bureau of Victims Services,” Gascón’s office added.
In her November 2023 civil lawsuit against Combs, Ventura alleged the Bad Boy Records founder paid the InterContinental Hotel in Century City $50,000 for the footage, which shows him attacking her near the elevator bank.
Combs, now 54, clutched a towel around his waist as he tried to drag Ventura by her sweatshirt before dropping her onto the carpet, the harrowing footage showed.
Ventura slowly got up and appeared to reach for a phone when Combs returned and shoved her, the clip shows.
A few seconds later, he grabbed an object from a nearby table and threw it at Ventura, according to the footage.
Here’s what we know about the allegations against Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs
- CNN released an exclusive video of Sean “Diddy” Combs abusing his ex-girlfriend, singer Cassie Ventura, on March 5, 2016.
- The Bad Boy Entertainment founder can be seen in the clip kicking, dragging, stomping and throwing items at the “Me and U” singer.
- Despite the viral clip, the LA District Attorney’s Office says it can’t prosecute Combs over the video because the incident took place too long ago and the statute of limitations has expired.
Diddy released an apology video for his actions on Instagram, citing his “inexcusable behavior” for beating Ventura and saying, “I was f–ked up.”- Ventura’s lawyer Meredith Firetog lashed out at Diddy’s “pathetic” apology, saying “Combs’ most recent statement is more about himself than the many people he has hurt.”
- Ventura filed a lawsuit against Combs in November 2023 based on several allegations, including rape and physical abuse for over a decade.
- Combs and Ventura settled the lawsuit one day after she filed it.
- Model Crystal McKinney then filed a separate lawsuit accusing the rapper of drugging her and forcing her to perform oral sex on him during a 2003 visit to his NYC studio when she was 22.
- NYC Mayor Eric Adams says his administration is considering taking back Combs’ key to the city after the horrifying footage surfaced.
Photographs of the couple at the premiere of “The Perfect Match” just two days later appeared to show Ventura sporting multiple bruises on her arms and legs, possibly from the altercation with Combs.
“The gut-wrenching video has only further confirmed the disturbing and predatory behavior of Mr. Combs,” Douglas H. Wigdor, a lawyer for Ventura, said in response to the video — which appeared to match the allegations in the latter’s now-settled lawsuit against Combs.
“Words cannot express the courage and fortitude that Ms. Ventura has shown in coming forward to bring this to light,” Wigdor added.
Ventura’s lawsuit – which was settled after one day for an undisclosed amount – claimed Combs used his wealth and influence to control her career and personal life.
The pair met when Ventura was 19 and Combs was 37, and Ventura was signed with his music label through 2019.
Since November, Combs has been hit with five other lawsuits accusing him of rape, sexual misconduct, and a slew of other heinous allegations.
In April, authorities raided his California and Florida mansions as part of an investigation by the US Department of Homeland Security team that deals with human trafficking.
The footage from the InterContinental will likely add more fuel to the fire under that probe, experts told the Los Angeles Times.
“This video paints him in an awful light. If the people were giving him the benefit of doubt, that is over,” Los Angeles defense attorney Lou Shapiro said.
“The problem here is he denied hitting [Ventura] and then in this video he is even kicking her when she is down,” he added.
Neama Rahmani, a former federal prosecutor, pointed out that “video doesn’t lie.”
“There is no legal or moral justification for what Diddy did. He violently attacked a defenseless woman,” he insisted.
The Post has reached out to Diddy’s lawyer for comment.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1.800.799.SAFE (7233) or text START to 88788.
