Sean “Diddy” Combs sued for allegedly sexually assaulting a 10-year-old girl

Combs’ alleged texts read in court

In May 2024, CNN published a fragment of a hotel surveillance video from 2016, which included appeared to show Combs attacking his then-girlfriend Cassiebe born Cassandra Ventura. (The assault coincided with an alleged incident detailed in a lawsuit she filed against Combs on November 16, 2023; both sides announced a settlement the following day).

“I was screwed up. I hit rock bottom,” Combs said in a video posted to Instagram in response to the footage. “But I’m not making any excuses. My behavior in this video is inexcusable. I take full responsibility for my actions in this video.” He added that he has since attended therapy and rehabilitation and is “committed to being a better person every day.”

During a Sept. 18 hearing on Combs’ second bail request, Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Johnson he told NBC News Combs allegedly sent the text message a few days after the robbery with the words: “Call me, the police are here.” Another reads: “I have six children. Call me, I’m surrounded.”

Johnson did not name Cassie in court. She said Combs’ victim responded via text message: “It’s sick that you think you can do what you did.”

Bail was denied again, this time by a U.S. District Judge Andrew L. Carter Jr.