Officials say alleged Diddy abuse video beyond timeline of prosecution for assault crimes
The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office says it would be unable to charge Sean “Diddy” Combs for the alleged assault of then-girlfriend, Cassandra “Cassie” Ventura as the conduct depicted in a 2016 video would have occurred beyond the timeline where a crime of assault can be prosecuted.
In a statement shared to social media late Friday, the office said, “We are aware of the video that has been circulating online allegedly depicting Sean Combs assaulting a young woman in Los Angeles. We find the images extremely disturbing and difficult to watch.”
However, it also noted that 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 present date, it said law enforcement has not presented a case related to the attack depicted in the video against 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,” it continued.
Newly-released video footage, obtained by CNN, on Friday appeared to show Combs beating and dragging Ventura at the now-closed InterContinental Hotel in Century City, Los Angeles on March 5, 2016.
It appears to show Ventura exiting a hotel room before Combs, holding a towel around his waist, runs after her. It then shows him violently grabbing her by the back of the neck and throwing her to the ground. He then appears to kick her as she lies motionless on the floor before dragging her by her sweatshirt toward the room.
READ: Video appears to show Diddy beating, dragging Cassie
The actions in the video supported claims of physical abuse Ventura made against Combs in a lawsuit last year. Combs and Ventura were in a relationship between 2005 and 2018. The lawsuit detailed several years of alleged abuse, however, the pair settled the suit out of court approximately 24 hours after it was filed.
Earlier this year, Homeland Security Investigations (HIS) agents raided a Los Angeles home reportedly associated with Combs.
