Cassie’s Lawyer Slams Sean "Diddy" Combs’ Recent Outing With Scathing Message
Cassie Ventura is standing her ground while Sean “Diddy” Combs is on vacation.
The “Me & U” singer condemned her ex-boyfriend’s recent excursion where he went whitewater rafting in Wyoming amid serious legal troubles, including multiple sexual assault lawsuits and allegations of sex trafficking and more.
Cassie’s lawyer Douglas Wigdor said in a July 9 statement to TMZ on her behalf, “I don't think white water rafting will prepare him for the choppy waters that lie ahead.”
Her lawyer’s comments come nearly two months after a 2016 video—which CNN released in May—showed the rapper grabbing her, pulling her to the ground and kicking her multiple times. It also appeared to show Diddy picking up an item and throwing it at her, which matched her description of the incident in Cassie’s November lawsuit against him.
While the “I’ll Be Missing You” artist denied Cassie’s allegations at the time and settled the lawsuit the day after it was filed, he addressed the footage two days after it was released.
"It's so difficult to reflect on the darkest times in your life, but sometimes you got to do that," he said in the Instagram video. "I was f--ked up. I hit rock bottom. But I make no excuses. My behavior on that video is inexcusable. I take full responsibility for my actions in that video."
Following the news, Cassie, who was in an on-again-off-again relationship with Diddy for over a decade since 2007, shared gratitude for the outpouring of support she received.
"Thank you for all of the love and support from my family, friends, strangers and those I have yet to meet," she wrote on Instagram. "The outpouring of love has created a place for my younger self to settle and feel safe now, but the is only the beginning."
"Domestic Violence is THE issue," the 37-year-old—who shares daughters Frankie, 4, and Sunny, 2, with husband Alex Fine— continued. "It broke me down to someone I never thought I would become. With a lot of hard work, I am better today, but I will always be recovering from my past."
E! News has reached out to Cassie’s reps and has not heard back.
Keep reading for a breakdown of Diddy’s recent legal troubles.
Federal agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) executed search warrants at Sean “Diddy” Combs’ Los Angeles and Miami properties on March 25, multiple law enforcement sources confirmed to NBC News.
The sources told the outlet the warrant was out of the Southern District of New York, and a spokesperson for HSI New York confirmed to E! News it “executed law enforcement actions as part of an ongoing investigation, with assistance from HSI Los Angeles, HSI Miami, and our local law enforcement partners.”
Law enforcement sources told NBC News the music mogul was in the Miami area when the search warrants were executed.
News about the investigation broke after Combs faced allegations of sexual misconduct in lawsuits filed by multiple accusers starting in November, with the musician denying the allegations.
“Sickening allegations have been made against me by individuals looking for a quick payday,” he wrote in a December statement posted on Instagram. “Let me be absolutely clear: I did not do any of the awful things being alleged. I will fight for my name, my family and for the truth.”
The day after HSI executed the search warrants at Combs' L.A. and Miami properties, his lawyer spoke out.
"Yesterday, there was a gross overuse of military-level force as search warrants were executed at Mr. Combs' residences," attorney Aaron Dyer said in a March 26 statement to E! News. "There is no excuse for the excessive show of force and hostility exhibited by authorities or the way his children and employees were treated."
Dyer noted Combs “was never detained but spoke to and cooperated with authorities.”
“Despite media speculation, neither Mr. Combs nor any of his family members have been arrested nor has their ability to travel been restricted in any way,” his lawyer's statement continued. “This unprecedented ambush—paired with an advanced, coordinated media presence—leads to a premature rush to judgment of Mr. Combs and is nothing more than a witch hunt based on meritless accusations made in civil lawsuits.”
And Dyer expressed Combs' intent to defend himself.
“There has been no finding of criminal or civil liability with any of these allegations,” he added. “Mr. Combs is innocent and will continue to fight every single day to clear his name.”
As for what actually went down during the searches, multiple law enforcement sources familiar with the warrant told NBC News authorities with the Department of Homeland Security seized phones from Combs’ home in Miami before he was scheduled to travel to the Bahamas, and several sources familiar with the matter added that guns were discovered during the search.
One source familiar with the matter also told NBC News three women and one man were interviewed by prosecutors and investigators from the Southern District of New York about allegations of sex trafficking, sexual assault, the solicitation and distribution of illegal narcotics and firearms purportedly tied to Combs.
On the same day the search warrants were executed at Combs’ Miami and Los Angeles properties, one of his associates, Brendan Paul, was arrested by the Miami-Dade police on suspicion of drug possession, a law enforcement source familiar with the matter told NBC News.
According to the Miami-Dade arrest affidavit obtained by the outlet, Paul was taken into custody for allegedly possessing suspected cocaine and suspected marijuana candy.
Prison records obtained by NBC News show Paul was released on March 26 after posting bond.
“We do not plan on trying this case in the media,” Paul’s attorney Brian Bieber said in a statement obtained by the outlet, “all issues will be dealt with in court.”
