A shocking surveillance video from 2016 has surfaced, showing music mogul Sean 'Diddy' Combs beating his then-girlfriend, but legal constraints prevent any criminal charges.
- May 18, 2024
AceShowbiz - A 2016 security camera video, recently released by CNN, captures Sean "P. Diddy" Combs violently assaulting his then-girlfriend, R&B singer Cassie Ventura. The disturbing footage, dated March 5, 2016, shows Combs grabbing, kicking, and dragging Ventura during an altercation at the InterContinental Hotel in Century City, Los Angeles.
Despite the distressing nature of the video, the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office has stated that it is unable to press charges due to the statute of limitations.
The Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office issued a statement explaining their inability to prosecute Combs, saying, "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."
Under California state law, the statute of limitations for felony assault is three years while for simple assault, it is one year.
The video matches allegations made by Ventura in her 2023 lawsuit against Combs, in which she detailed years of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse. Though Ventura and Combs reached a settlement just days after filing the lawsuit, Ventura's attorney, Douglas H. Wigdor, emphasized that the video "has only further confirmed the disturbing and predatory behavior of Mr. Combs."
Combs has continuously denied the allegations, with his attorney, Ben Brafman, asserting that settlement does not signify an admission of guilt. Brafman stated, "A decision to settle a lawsuit, especially in 2023, is in no way an admission of wrongdoing."
In addition to the allegations from Ventura, Combs faces five other civil lawsuits regarding various acts of sexual misconduct and illegal activities. Federal investigations into Combs' conduct continue, including raids on his properties in California and Florida by the Department of Homeland Security's human trafficking units.
Ventura's courage in bringing these allegations to light has garnered significant public support. Meanwhile, legal experts acknowledge the frustrating limitations of the legal system in addressing past abuses. As the investigation into Diddy's alleged activities continues, the footage underscores the importance of addressing and supporting victims of intimate partner violence.
For anyone experiencing domestic violence, help is available through the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or visiting thehotline.org.
