Cassie Ventura's attorney issues statement after 'Diddy' verdict

Jami Ganz, New York Daily News on Jul 2, 2025

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Casandra “Cassie” Ventura has issued a statement after a Manhattan jury found Sean “Diddy” Combs not guilty of sex trafficking Wednesday.

The 38-year-old “Me & U” singer — who was heavily pregnant when she testified for four days about her ex-boyfriend’s abuse and the drug-fueled “freak-offs” to which she was subjected — spoke out through her attorney Douglas Wigdor.

“This entire criminal process started when our client Cassie Ventura had the courage to file her civil complaint in November 2023,” Wigdor said in a statement to the New York Daily News. “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. By coming forward with her experience, Cassie has left an indelible mark on both the entertainment industry and the fight for justice.”

Wigdor reiterated the legal team’s faith in Ventura, praising her “exemplary courage throughout this trial.”

“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,” he continued. “This case proved that change is long overdue, and we will continue to fight on behalf of survivors.”

In November 2023, Ventura filed a bombshell lawsuit accusing the Bad Boy Records founder, 55, of rape, sex trafficking and abuse during their on-and-off relationship, which lasted from 2007 until 2018. They settled for $20 million the following day, with dozens of similar lawsuits filed since.

The Harlem-born mogul’s physical abuse of Ventura was confirmed in May 2024, when CNN published harrowing security footage of Combs beating her in a hotel hallway in early 2016. Combs subsequently admitted to and apologized for the attack, unedited video of which was released at his trial.

Combs was convicted on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, each of which carries a maximum 10-year prison sentence. He faced life behind bars if convicted on the more serious racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking charges.

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