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Cassie Ventura is done staying silent - and she's done staying anonymous.
The 38-year-old singer and ex-girlfriend of Sean "Diddy" Combs will testify under her real name in his federal sex trafficking trial, according to court documents and reporting from PEOPLE. Ventura, listed as "Victim-1," has told prosecutors she wants to go on the record - a major contrast to three other alleged victims who have asked to remain anonymous.
Her decision comes as Combs, 55, faces serious federal charges: sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to engage in prostitution. The trial is scheduled to begin May 5 in New York, and the courtroom is expected to be packed - with media, lawyers, and no shortage of public scrutiny.
A high-stakes trial and a bold decision to go public
Ventura's name first resurfaced in the case back in January, when Rolling Stone confirmed she was the first known acc in the federal indictment. But she initially gained national attention after CNN released hotel surveillance footage from 2016 allegedly showing Combs assaulting her - footage her legal team says s claims from a now-settled 2023 lawsuit.
The new indictment adds even more fuel: prosecutors claim Combs and his associates lured women into so-called "freak offs,"which they describe as orchestrated sex events involving coercion, manipulation, and control. A new count of sex trafficking by force has also been added, tied to a second victim.
Combs' attorneys are pushing back hard. In a recent court filing, they alleged that CNN altered the surveillance footage by editing the video to make events look more extreme. Ventura's attorney, Douglas Wigdor, fired back, saying he's confident the video "fairly and accurately represents what happened" and expects it to be itted into evidence.
Right now, Combs is being held without bail at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center while he awaits trial. He's pleaded not guilty and has denied all accusations - including more than 60 other lawsuits filed against him over sexual misconduct.
But as this trial looms, one thing's becoming clear: Ventura is not backing down, and her voice may be one of the most important ones in this case.