The Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office revealed that they are unable to bring charges against Sean “Diddy” Combs for assaulting his ex-girlfriend due to the statute of limitations for assault. The shocking surveillance video, which shows Diddy violently assaulting Cassie Ventura at a hotel in 2016, was deemed disturbing and difficult to watch by the DA’s office. The attack occurred beyond the timeline where a crime of assault can be prosecuted, according to California state law. The video shows Diddy chasing Ventura, grabbing her by the neck, throwing her to the floor, and kicking her twice as she lies motionless on the ground.
Diddy and Ventura were in an off-and-on relationship between 2007 and 2018, with Ventura claiming in a federal lawsuit that their relationship turned abusive. She alleged that Diddy regularly threatened her career and loved ones in order to maintain control over her. Ventura also claimed that Diddy forced her to engage in sexual acts with male sex workers, plied her with drugs, and recorded some of the encounters. In 2018, when she tried to end the relationship, Ventura alleged that Diddy raped her in her Los Angeles home. The lawsuit outlined an incident at the InterContinental Hotel in Century City in March 2016 where Diddy allegedly punched Ventura in the face, causing her to have a black eye, and threw glass vases at her as she tried to escape.
Ventura revealed that she and Diddy reached a settlement in the case shortly after it was filed, with former CIA and FBI special agent Tracy Walder claiming the settlement was reached quickly due to the release of the surveillance video. The video, which Diddy reportedly did not expect to get out, played a major role in the case. Multiple women, as well as male producer Rodney Jones, have come forward claiming they were also victims of Diddy’s sexual harassment, sexual assault, and drugging. Despite the disturbing nature of the surveillance footage, the LA DA’s Office is unable to bring charges against Diddy due to the statute of limitations for assault in California.
The video shows Diddy chasing Ventura down a hotel hallway, grabbing her by the neck, throwing her to the floor, and kicking her twice as she lies motionless. Ventura’s lawsuit outlined a pattern of abuse and manipulation by Diddy, including threats to her career, forcing her to engage in sexual acts with male sex workers, and drugging her. The suit also detailed an incident at the InterContinental Hotel in Century City where Diddy punched Ventura in the face, gave her a black eye, and threw glass vases at her as she tried to escape down the hallway. Despite the graphic nature of the footage, the DA’s office stated that they cannot prosecute Diddy for the assault due to the statute of limitations.
Following the release of the surveillance video, multiple women and a male producer have come forward alleging they were also victims of Diddy’s sexual harassment, sexual assault, and drugging. Ventura’s lawsuit was settled quickly after the video was released, with former CIA and FBI special agent Tracy Walder stating that Diddy did not expect the video to be made public. The settlement was reportedly reached in part due to the incriminating nature of the footage. Despite these allegations and revelations, the LA DA’s Office has confirmed they are unable to bring charges against Diddy for the assault on Ventura due to the statute of limitations in California.
