Is Casandra ‘Cassie’ Ventura Paid to Give Testimony in Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ Trial?

On the first day of testimony in the explosive trial against hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, singer and former partner Casandra “Cassie” Ventura took the stand with visible emotion, recounting years of alleged abuse at the hands of the music mogul. Dressed in muted tones and maintaining a composed demeanor, Ventura began to share details of what she described as a deeply controlling and violent relationship. So, does Ventura get paid to take the stand? Here’s what to know.

Will Casandra ‘Cassie’ Ventura get paid to testify against Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs?

Casandra “Cassie” Ventura took the stand within the first few days of the federal trial against music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs. She delivered harrowing testimony about the abuse she allegedly endured during their decade-long relationship. Ventura, who filed a civil lawsuit against Combs in 2023, detailed a pattern of coercion, physical violence, and psychological manipulation.

Ventura described being coerced into participating in multiday sexual encounters with paid sex workers, referred to as “freak-offs.” She testified that these exhausting events often involved drug use and explicit activities directed by Combs. Ventura claimed that Combs filmed these encounters and used the footage to manipulate and control her. He allegedly threatened to release the tapes if she did not comply with his demands.

Additionally, Ventura recounted several instances of physical violence. She alleged that Combs dragged, kicked, and frequently threw her to the ground. She also testified about Combs’s controlling behavior, which extended to her appearance, career decisions, and personal interactions.

Ventura bravely taking the stand and telling her story while the world eagerly awaits updates can’t be easy. And she does not get paid big bucks to provide testimony as a witness. Witnesses in federal court receive payment for a fixed amount per day — typically around $40. They also receive compensation for any travel expenses they incur. Witnesses typically do not receive payment for lost wages.

A trial lawyer says other witnesses will likely speak about the abuse that Casandra ‘Cassie’ Ventura endured

Law&Crime Network’s Jesse Weber spoke to trial lawyer Rich Schoenstein about the Sean “Diddy” Combs case. They discussed Casandra “Cassie” Ventura’s first day on the stand and her allegations of abuse. Schoenstein noted that there will likely be other witnesses who can corroborate Ventura’s allegations.

“I imagine there are other witnesses who are going to talk about their relationship and probably talk about some of the physical stuff,” Schoenstein said.

However, the lawyer noted he sees “major hurdles” for the prosecution moving forward. “They have to get past the idea that this is consensual behavior by other people who are behaving in a questionable fashion,” he noted. ” … The second, bigger hurdle to me is turning an abuse case into a racketeering case.”

A former federal prosecutor said the ‘freak-off’ videos will serve as the ‘most powerful evidence’

Casandra “Cassie” Ventura references Sean “Diddy” Combs’ “freak-offs” in her testimony. Former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani told The U.S. Sun that these videos serve as key evidence for the prosecution.

“The most powerful evidence that was seized by the government has to be the videos,” Rahmani said. “And we’ve only seen one video of Diddy seemingly beating Cassie Ventura at the Intercontinental Hotel in Los Angeles in about 2016. Criminal defendants can lie. Only when CNN got a copy of that video in May of last year did Diddy finally issue an apology. That’s how powerful video evidence is. And that’s why the government wanted to get the hard drives, the iPhones, the iPads, because Diddy reportedly videotaped these freak-offs.”

“The video of the freak-offs, if they exist, may be the most damning evidence in this case,” Rahmani added.

How to get help: In the U.S., call the RAINN National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 to connect with a trained staff member from a sexual assault service provider in your area. 

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