Judge Allows Assault Video in Sean 'Diddy' Combs Trial

A federal judge has ruled that surveillance footage showing Sean 'Diddy' Combs assaulting his former girlfriend Cassie Ventura in a Los Angeles hotel in 2016 will be admitted as evidence in his upcoming sex trafficking and racketeering trial. Combs' defense team argued the video had been manipulated, but the court found it was authenticated and not unfairly prejudicial. The footage, first obtained by CNN, depicts Combs chasing, kicking, and dragging Ventura, and is considered a critical piece of evidence by prosecutors. Additional sensitive videos alleging coercive sexual acts, described as 'freak offs,' will also be shown to the jury but will remain sealed from the public. Prosecutors have accused Combs of running a criminal enterprise, while the defense maintains that his actions were consensual and not criminal. Jury selection is scheduled to begin May 5, with Combs pleading not guilty to all charges.