Judge Rules Jury Can View Diddy Assault Video Ahead of Trial

A federal judge has ruled that jurors in Sean 'Diddy' Combs' upcoming sex trafficking and racketeering trial will be allowed to view video footage showing Combs assaulting his former girlfriend Cassie Ventura in a Los Angeles hotel hallway in 2016. Combs' legal team argued the video was edited and would unfairly prejudice the jury, but the judge determined its relevance outweighed any potential bias. Prosecutors described the footage as critical and some of the most damning evidence of Combs' alleged crimes, asserting he took significant steps to keep it concealed. The court also denied Combs' requests for a trial delay and granted anonymity to several accusers, which his defense contested. Jury selection is set to begin May 5, with opening statements scheduled for May 12. Combs has pleaded not guilty, maintaining that all encounters were consensual, while prosecutors allege a pattern of coercion, violence, and efforts to silence victims.