The timer on justice has, unfortunately, run out for Sean "Diddy" Combs, the famed music mogul embroiled in a nasty assault case making waves online. Despite the emergence of a disturbing video involving Combs and his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office threw in the towel on any potential charges related to the 2016 hotel incident. Citing the statute of limitations, the DA's Office declared it too late to file charges against Combs for the alleged assault, according to KTLA.
The brutal confrontation reportedly took place within the confines of the now-shuttered InterContinental Hotel in Century City. It is in the video, obtained by CNN, where Diddy is seen in a state of undress, clad only in a towel and socks, actively thrusting Ventura to the ground, then kicking her multiple times, before dragging her away. The District Attorney George Gascón's office said, in a statement obtained by KABC, "We are aware of the video that has been circulating online allegedly depicting Sean Combs assaulting a young woman in Los Angeles." He continued by saying, "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."
Amid the fallout of the leaked footage, details have emerged indicating that Ventura, in a civil lawsuit filed against her former beau last year, claimed Combs coughed up $50,000 for the hotel’s security footage. The lawsuit, which was settled hastily after being filed, had also included other allegations of sexual assault and physical abuse; charges that Diddy had publicly denied, suggesting ulterior motives rooted in financial gain were at play.
It was reported earlier this year that federal agents had raided Combs' residences in both Los Angeles and Miami as a part of a wider federal sex trafficking investigation. The Department of Homeland Security is allegedly linking the operation to claims made in several civil lawsuits against Combs, encompassing not only assault but also rape and human trafficking. In response to the raids, Combs' attorney Aaron Dyer labeled the law enforcement action as "a gross use of military-level force," standing by his client's innocence and vowing to continue to fight to "clear his name," as reported by KTLA.
While the ship has sailed on any criminal charges for the 2016 incident, the DA's Office is still actively encouraging any victims or witnesses to come forward with evidence or testimony of crimes to law enforcement. The quest for justice remains ongoing.
