Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs trial: Cassie’s mother makes blackmail claim
The mother of Cassie Ventura testified that Sean ‘Diddy‘ Combs blackmailed her for the sum of $20,000 during the hip-hop mogul’s trial in New York on May 20th.
Regina Ventura took the stand to testify that she was “scared about my daughter’s safety”. She had therefore paid Combs the $20,000 to “recoup money he had spent” on her daughter. Ventura alleged that he wanted the money returned because “he was unhappy she was in a relationship with Kid Cudi.”
Combs is charged with five counts of sex trafficking, racketeering, and sexual abuse. He has pleaded not guilty to all of the charges. He dated Cassie for 11 years, and allegedly forced her to partake in hundreds of drug-fuelled sex ‘freak-offs‘ with escorts, as well as physically abusing her.
Regina explained that the blackmail took place in December 2011. She received an email from her daughter, addressed to Regina and Combs’ assistant. The email exposed that Combs was threatening to release explicit videos after learning that she was dating Kid Cudi.
Combs had already allegedly set fire to the rapper’s Porsche in reaction to the news that Cassie and Kid Cudi were dating. This new email threatened that he would “be having someone hurt” her and Cudi.
Combs is alleged to have demanded $20,000 to reclaim his spending on Cassie. Regina explained that she and her husband took out a home-equity loan to get the money, as she was “scared” for her “daughter’s safety.” Regina followed instructions from Combs’s bookkeeper and wired the money, though it was returned days later.
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Upon Cassie’s return home for Christmas in 2011, and out of the newfound fear the family had, Regina took photos of bruises Cassie had to document the violence she was facing.
After Cassie Ventura’s testimony and cross-examination ended on May 16th, the musician, who was eight and a half months pregnant during the trial, released an official statement. “For me, the more I heal, the more I can remember,” she said. “And the more I can remember, the more I will never forget.”
If found guilty, Combs could spend the rest of his life in prison. He has pleaded not guilty to all of the charges.
For help, advice or more information regarding sexual harassment, assault and rape in the UK, visit the Rape Crisis charity website. In the US, visit RAINN.
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