Surveillance video obtained by CNN appears to show music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs assaulting his ex-girlfriend Cassie in a 2016 hotel attack, which she detailed in a since-settled lawsuit alleging the rapper had physically and sexually assaulted her for years.
CNN reported that the video is from an incident in March 2016. It captures multiple angles.
Cassie, 37, whose name is Casandra Ventura, alleged in a federal lawsuit in November that Combs raped and physically abused her, including hitting, beating, kicking and stomping on her during their relationship. The lawsuit was settled the day after it was filed.
Representatives for Combs, 54, did not immediately respond to requests for comment Friday, according to NBC News. He previously denied the allegations, calling them sickening. Shortly after the settlement with Cassie, an attorney for Combs said the agreement was “in no way an admission of wrongdoing.”
Since Cassie’s trial, Combs has been accused in a series of lawsuits by others of sexual and physical abuse, gang rape and “serious illegal activity.”
He is the subject of a federal criminal investigation and agents searched his properties this spring.
Combs has denied all allegations and vowed to clear his name.
According to CNN, the video, captured in a hotel hallway, shows Combs in a towel without a shirt. He walks up behind a woman near an elevator, then grabs her and throws her to the ground. The man identified by CNN as Combs then appears to kick him twice. He then begins dragging the woman by her hoodie while she is on the ground.
The woman, according to the video, picks up a phone while Combs is out of view of the camera. Combs then enters the video frame and appears to push the woman, who is no longer in the camera’s field of view.
Moments later, Combs, sitting in a chair, appears to pick up an object and throw it. The video clip has no audio.
NBC News has not independently verified the video.
“The heartbreaking video only further confirmed Mr. Combs’ disturbing and predatory behavior,” Douglas Wigdor, Cassie’s attorney, said Friday. “Words cannot express the courage and fortitude that Ms. Ventura has shown in coming forward to bring this to light. »
A source familiar with the matter told NBC in March that three women and a man had been questioned by federal officials in Manhattan over allegations of sex trafficking, sexual assault and the solicitation and distribution of narcotics and illegal firearms.
Since last fall, the rapper has been the subject of five lawsuits in New York, accusing him of sexual assault, sex trafficking and engaging in other criminal activity.
He settled the case with Cassie, but the other lawsuits are ongoing.
In March, federal agents raided the rapper’s homes in Los Angeles and Miami. Three sources familiar with the matter told NBC News that guns were found at his home, but no additional details were provided.
Sean “Diddy” Combs is under investigation following a wave of lawsuits against him, a source close to the investigation told NBC News on March 25.
Dyer, one of Combs’ attorneys, released a statement following the searches and said Combs “was never arrested but spoke and cooperated with authorities.” He described the raid as an ambush, saying there had been a rush to judgment based on “baseless accusations made in civil suits.”
“None of these allegations has resulted in a finding of criminal or civil liability,” Dyer said. “Mr. Combs is innocent and will continue to fight every day to clear his name.”
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