Cassie Ventura’s mother took the stand Tuesday in federal court, offering an emotional and potentially pivotal testimony in the government’s case against music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs.
Speaking at the Daniel Patrick Moynihan United States Courthouse in Manhattan, Regina Ventura recounted disturbing details about the abuse her daughter allegedly endured at the hands of Combs. Among the most striking revelations, she testified that Combs attempted to extort their family, demanding a cash payment in exchange for suppressing explicit material.
Legal experts say her account could play a critical role in the prosecution’s effort to establish a pattern of intimidation and control. “Family members can often be seen as biased, but credibility ultimately depends on the witness’s demeanor,” said Los Angeles litigator John J. Perlstein in comments to Fox News Digital. “What’s significant is her account of a $20,000 payment to keep sex tapes from being made public. That paints a troubling picture of power used to exploit.”
During Tuesday’s proceedings, the jury was shown a December 23, 2011, email from Cassie to her mother. In the message, the singer warned that Combs had threatened to release two sex tapes and orchestrate physical harm against her and then-boyfriend, rapper Kid Cudi (Scott Mescudi). She noted that Combs claimed the violence would occur while he was out of the country, distancing himself from any direct involvement.
On the stand, Regina said the contents of the email made her feel physically ill. While she admitted to not grasping every detail, she testified that she fully understood the gravity of the threat to her daughter’s safety.
According to her testimony, Combs had demanded the $20,000 reimbursement for money he claimed to have spent on Cassie. Regina and her husband took out a home equity loan to meet the demand, wiring the funds directly to a Bad Boy Entertainment account. She noted that the money was returned a few days later, and that she never communicated directly with Combs about the transaction. She also no longer possesses a copy of the wire transfer details.
“I was scared for my daughter’s safety,” she told Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Johnson.
Perlstein noted that Ventura’s statements bolster Cassie’s earlier claims and underscore the prosecution’s effort to prove a long-term pattern of coercion and abuse. Interestingly, Combs’ legal team declined to cross-examine Regina—a rare move that some experts interpret as a sign the defense viewed her as a credible and potentially damaging witness.
“Opting out of cross-examination suggests to the jury that the defense has no reason to challenge the witness’s credibility,” said Perlstein.
Former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani suggested that avoiding cross-examining a victim’s mother may have been a strategic decision. “You risk alienating jurors if you appear aggressive toward someone seen as a sympathetic figure,” he explained.
Cassie, who is now married to Alex Fine and expecting their third child, previously testified about her alleged rape by Combs following their breakup. She told the court she entered rehab in early 2023 due to severe flashbacks linked to the abuse.
She also described Combs’ so-called “freak offs”—highly orchestrated sexual encounters involving drugs, surveillance, and emotional manipulation. According to the federal indictment, these events often lasted multiple days, and Cassie testified that the longest spanned four days. She said she often needed time to recover from “the drugs, dehydration, and lack of sleep.”
In November 2023, Cassie received a $20 million settlement just one day after filing a lawsuit against Combs.
The artist and entrepreneur faces a federal indictment unsealed on September 17, charging him with racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, and transportation for the purpose of prostitution. He has denied all allegations. If convicted, Combs faces a minimum of 15 years in prison and could receive a life sentence.
