Singer Cassie Ventura has expressed deep concern for her safety in the days leading up to the sentencing of her former partner, Sean “Diddy” Combs. In a victim impact statement submitted to the court, Ventura said she relocated her family out of New York, fearing possible retaliation if Combs is released.
“I am so scared that if he walks free, his first actions will be swift retribution towards me and others who spoke up,” Ventura wrote, according to her statement cited by BBC. This marks her first public reflection since testifying against Combs earlier this year.
Ventura was the government’s key witness in the trial, spending four days on the stand. She testified that during their 11-year relationship, Combs physically and sexually abused her and forced her into drug-fueled sex parties, known as “freak-offs.” In her letter, Ventura reiterated those allegations, writing that the abuse caused her “tremendous emotional pain.”
In July, Combs was convicted on two counts of transporting for prostitution involving Ventura and another ex-girlfriend but was acquitted of more serious charges, including sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy. Prosecutors have requested an 11-year sentence, citing the seriousness of his offenses, while defense attorneys have asked for a reduced term of 14 months, which would allow near-immediate release given time served.
Combs’ lawyers acknowledged his history of domestic abuse but argued he did not coerce sexual activity. They further claimed he has changed while in custody, citing letters from fellow inmates describing his mentorship through business classes called “Free Game with Diddy.”
Ventura, however, rejected those claims in her statement. “He has no interest in changing or becoming better,” she wrote. “He will always be the same cruel, power-hungry, manipulative man that he is.”
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