Federal prosecutors plan to call four alleged victim-witnesses next month in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex trafficking and racketeering trial.
In a motion filed Friday, April 4, prosecutors asked the court to take steps at trial “to protect the dignity and privacy” of the four women.
Prosecutors said in the 24-page motion, obtained by Urban Hollywood 411, that “Victim-1” is prepared “to testify under her own name,” while the others wish to proceed anonymously.
Both People magazine and TMZ identified “Victim-1” as Diddy’s former girlfriend Cassie Ventura, who filed a civil lawsuit against the music mogul in November 2023, alleging rape and sex trafficking. Ventura’s lawsuit was settled after one day, although Diddy’s legal team said the settlement was “not an admission of wrongdoing.” Six months later, CNN released hotel surveillance video showing Ventura being attacked by Combs in a Los Angeles hotel in 2016.
Related: CNN Responds to Diddy’s Claim Network ‘Altered’ Hotel Assault Video
“Vicitm-2, Victim-3, and Victim-4 have asked that their identities not be revealed to the press or the public,” prosecutors said in their motion.
While Diddy’s legal team is aware of the alleged victims’ identities, prosecutors have asked that pseudonyms be used at trial and some documents be sealed to prevent “harassment from the media and others, undue embarrassment, and other adverse consequences.”
One of the alleged victims is particularly concerned about protecting her family’s privacy and maintaining her ability to “earn an income,” after deeply private information is revealed in the trial.
In their motion, prosecutors cited several other cases where victims of forced labor and sexual abuse, including the R. Kelly case, were allowed to testify using pseudonyms.
Diddy was arrested in September 2024, and charged with three federal counts — racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution. He pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Prosecutors added two additional charges — sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion; and transportation to engage in prostitution — in a superseding indictment on Thursday, April 3.
The music mogul’s legal team downplayed the charges in a statement to the media.
“These are not new accusers, these are the same individuals, former long-term girlfriends, involved in consensual relationships. This was their private sex life,” his attorneys said.
Jury selection in the case is scheduled to begin on May 5, with his trial tentatively set to start on May 12.
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