Cassie Ventura has taken the witness stand for the second day after she spent over four hours on Tuesday testifying as the prosecution’s star witness.
Ventura’s emotional testimony has, at times, focused on the power dynamics, sexual performances known as “Freak Offs” and the “physical abuse” she endured throughout her decade-long relationship with Sean “Diddy” Combs, but CNN legal analyst Joey Jackson says the defense will likely remind the jury that this is “not domestic violence case.”
“This is a federal case involving federal crimes,” Jackson told CNN.
Combs has pleaded not guilty to a total of five counts on charges that include racketeering conspiracy, transportation to engage in prostitution and sex trafficking by force or coercion.
As for how the defense may approach cross examining Ventura, Jackson said the fact that Ventura is pregnant “is relevant because of the sensitivities involved in that,” adding that “at the same time, I think you have to get to the core issue.”
Jackson said the defense may try to focus on the fact that Combs and Ventura were in a longterm relationship and question why Ventura didn’t walk away or “say no” at any point despite having the “opportunity” to do so.
It’s important to note, Jackson said, “The issue really is not about a person’s sex life on trial. Jurors are not there to be the morality police. … The issue is, is it a federal offense? Where is the fraud, where is the coercion?”
“The bottom line is that yes, there are a lot of sensitivities in this cross examination,” Jackson said, “but at the end of the day, keep your eyes on the prize, the defense attorney’s would say, it’s not about sex, not about salaciousness – it’s about criminality.”
