L.A. County District Attorney: Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Can’t Be Charged Over Alleged Violent Attack On Girlfriend

 Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón’s office says that the rap mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs cannot be charged for his alleged violent attack in 2016 on his then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura because the statute of limitations has expired.

“We are aware of the video that has been circulating online allegedly depicting Sean Combs assaulting a young woman in Los Angeles,” the district attorney’s office said in a statement posted to social media.

“We find the images extremely disturbing and difficult to watch,” the statement continued. “If the conduct depicted occurred in 2016, unfortunately we would be unable to charge as the conduct would have occurred beyond the timeline where a crime of assault can be prosecuted. As of today, law enforcement has not presented a case related to the attack depicted in the video against Mr. Combs, but we encourage anyone who has been a victim or witness to a crime to report it to law enforcement or reach out to our office for support from our Bureau of Victims Services.”

CNN exclusively obtained video of the incident late last week — which appears to have happened on March 5, 2016 — at the now-closed InterContinental Hotel in Century City, Los Angeles.

The video purportedly shows Combs running down the hall after Ventura and catching up to her as she waits for an elevator.

Combs allegedly grabbed her, threw her on the ground, kicked her, and attempted to drag her back to the hotel room.

She later slowly gets up and picks up a phone on the wall near the elevator as Combs walks back to the hotel room with her bags.

He later returned and appeared to shove her into a corner before sitting on a nearby chair and allegedly throwing an object at her.

Ventura filed a lawsuit against Combs in November, accusing the music mogul of abuse.

Combs settled the lawsuit the following day.

 

Ben Brafman, an attorney for Combs, said that Combs “vehemently denies these offensive and outrageous allegations.”

“A decision to settle a lawsuit, especially in 2023, is in no way an admission of wrongdoing,” he added. “Mr. Combs‘ decision to settle the lawsuit does not in any way undermine his flat-out denial of the claims. He is happy they got to a mutual settlement and wishes Ms. Ventura the best.”

The release of the video comes after federal law enforcement officials with the Department of Homeland Security executed raids on two homes belonging to Combs in March in connection to an alleged sex trafficking investigation.