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NewsJuly, 3 Cassie's lawyer reacts to verdict in Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial
Cassie's lawyer has responded to the verdict in Sean 'Diddy' Combs's federal trial. On Wednesday, the hip-hop mogul was found guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution and not guilty on racketeering and sex trafficking charges at a court in Manhattan, New York City. In a statement to reporters, Combs's attorney Marc Agnifilo declared the verdict to be a "victory" and a "major, major step in the right direction". Meanwhile, a lawyer for Combs's former partner Cassie - real name Casandra Ventura - praised his client for testifying during the case. Ventura served as a key witness, and amid her four-day testimony, she alleged that the 55-year-old routinely assaulted and subjected her to psychological abuse. "Although the jury did not find Combs guilty of sex trafficking Cassie beyond a reasonable doubt, she paved the way for a jury to find him guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution," Douglas H. Wigdor told Variety. "By coming forward with her experience, Cassie has left an indelible mark on both the entertainment industry and the fight for justice... She displayed unquestionable strength and brought attention to the realities of powerful men in our orbit and the misconduct that has persisted for decades without repercussion." Ventura has not yet commented on the verdict. The 38-year-old filed a civil lawsuit against Combs in November 2023 in which she alleged the I'll Be Missing You star subjected her to a "cycle of abuse, violence, and sex trafficking" throughout their 11-year relationship. The pair settled the case the following day, and during the trial, Ventura revealed she received a $20 million (£15 million) payment from the Bad Boy Records co-founder. Soon after the case was settled, Combs was hit with a number of further civil lawsuits in which claimants accused him of sexual assault and abuse, with the alleged incidents taking place between 1991 and 2009. And in September 2024, he was charged with federal sex trafficking, transportation to engage in prostitution, and racketeering. The entrepreneur pleaded not guilty and was denied bail three times. Combs is expected to be sentenced on the two transportation charges in October. Each charge carries a maximum of 10 years in prison. Wigdor submitted a letter to the judge in which he requested that Combs's bail request be denied. He claimed Ventura "believes that Mr. Combs is likely to pose a danger to the victims who testified in this case, including herself, as well as to the community".
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