“I Will F--king Kill You”: Cassie’s Explosive Audio Rocks the Courtroom - Drop Dead Serious With Ashleigh Banfield

Drop Dead Serious With Ashleigh Banfield: Episode Summary

Episode Title: “I Will F--king Kill You”: Cassie’s Explosive Audio Rocks the Courtroom
Release Date: May 17, 2025
Host: Ashleigh Banfield

Introduction

In this gripping episode of Drop Dead Serious With Ashleigh Banfield, Ashleigh delves deep into the high-stakes Sean "Diddy" Combs federal sex trafficking trial. The focus centers on Cassie Ventura's pivotal testimony and the explosive revelations that unfolded in the courtroom. With 36 years of true crime reporting expertise, Ashleigh provides her incisive analysis of the trial's developments, the strategies employed by both prosecution and defense, and the emotional toll on those involved.

Overview of the Trial

Five days into the trial, with numerous proceedings still ahead, the spotlight is firmly on Cassie Ventura, Diddy's ex-girlfriend and the government's star witness. Day four marks the culmination of Cassie's testimony at 3:20 PM, a significant milestone that had the prosecution on edge. The concern was that if Cassie's testimony extended into further days, it would grant Diddy ample time over the weekend to scrutinize and prepare for another round of cross-examination.

Quote:
"Cassie's testimony officially ended at 3:20pm today. And that might not seem like such a big deal, but trust me when I say it was a big old deal."
— Ashleigh Banfield [00:07]

Courtroom Dynamics and Attire

Ashleigh provides a vivid description of the courtroom scene, highlighting the attire choices of both Diddy and Cassie. Diddy's repetitive outfit—a cream-colored sweater paired with light-colored pants—became a point of curiosity, especially given his status as a fashion icon. In contrast, Cassie appeared professional and composed, dressed in an oversized dark blue striped blazer and a light blue pinstripe shirt.

Quote:
"Cassie dressed beautifully. She looked professional. She looked controlled and reserved."
— Ashleigh Banfield

Cassie Ventura's Testimony

Cassie's four-day testimony was marked by emotional disclosures and strategic revelations:

Post-Assault Communications: The defense introduced text messages between Cassie and Diddy after the alleged assault in August 2018. These messages, which included phrases like "I'm so horny for you" and "I need a different vibe," were portrayed by the defense as indicative of a consensual relationship, attempting to undermine Cassie's credibility regarding the assault.
Explosive Audio Recording: A pivotal moment came with the introduction of an audio tape from 2014, where Cassie can be heard threatening to kill a friend over a supposed compromising video. The raw emotion and aggression in her voice starkly contrasted with her demeanor on the stand, challenging the prosecution's portrayal of her as a victim.

Quote:
"I will kill you. If you don't show it to me right now, I will cut you up."
— Cassie Ventura [Timestamp not provided]
Financial Settlements: Cassie revealed a $10 million settlement from a lawsuit against the Intercontinental Hotel, adding to a previous $20 million settlement, bringing her total compensation to $30 million. This disclosure aimed to question the motives behind her accusations.
Admission of Intimacy Post-Assault: Cassie admitted to being intimate with Diddy a month after the alleged rape, complicating the narrative and potentially impacting her credibility.
Mental Health Defense: For the first time, the defense hinted at a mental health angle, suggesting that Diddy's behavior during the alleged rape could be attributed to bipolar disorder.
Emotional Breakdown: Under intense questioning, Cassie broke down in tears, describing feelings of worthlessness and insignificance inflicted by Diddy.

Quote:
"I'm just like dirt. Like I didn't matter to him. Like I was nothing. Absolutely nothing."
— Cassie Ventura [Timestamp not provided]

Defense Strategies and Courtroom Tactics

Ashleigh critiques the defense's approach, noting their seemingly disjointed and scattershot presentation of evidence. The defense aimed to paint Cassie in a different light, from a victim to someone with a multifaceted personality, potentially undermining her reliability.

Introduction of Varied Evidence: From text messages to audio recordings, the defense presented a wide array of evidence that, while potentially casting doubt on Cassie's narrative, may have confused jurors rather than clarified the truth.
Questioning Cassie's Credibility: By highlighting Cassie's financial settlements and personal relationships post-assault, the defense sought to suggest ulterior motives behind her accusations.
Mental Health Angle: Introducing Diddy's possible bipolar disorder was an attempt to contextualize his actions and divert focus from the core allegations.

Quote:
"I think it's a good strategy."
— Ashleigh Banfield on Defense Tactics

Emotional and Dramatic Moments

The courtroom was rife with emotional tension:

Alex Fine's Presence: Cassie's husband, Alex Fine, provided unwavering support. Ashleigh notes instances where Alex had to be removed from the courtroom during particularly emotional testimonies, eliciting empathy from jurors.
Cassie's Emotional Testimony: Cassie's breakdowns and heartfelt admissions added a poignant layer to her testimony, highlighting the personal toll of the trial.
Interruption of Courtroom Attire Routine: Diddy's consistent attire contrasted sharply with the dynamic and emotional environment of the courtroom, subtly emphasizing the disparity between his composed appearance and the chaos of the trial.

Quote:
"As the day rolled on, Cassie broke down in tears... invaluable moments that showcased her emotional resilience."
— Ashleigh Banfield

Statements from Cassie's Husband, Alex Fine

Following Cassie's testimony, Alex Fine released a heartfelt statement emphasizing Cassie's strength and resilience:

Quote:
"You did not break her spirit. You did not break her smile. You did not break the soul of a mother who gives the best hugs and plays the silliest games with our little girls."
— Alex Fine

Introduction of New Witnesses and Evidence

As the episode progresses, Ashleigh highlights the introduction of new witnesses and evidence that further complicate the trial:

Special Agent Yasin Binda: Testified about the unexpected raid and arrest of Diddy at the Park Hyatt Hotel in September 2024. The discovery of drugs, cash, and other incriminating items during the raid added another layer of complexity to the case.
Dawn Richard's Testimony: Dawn, a former member of Danity Kane and Diddy's Dirty Money, recounted witnessing violent outbursts from Diddy, including physical assaults on Cassie. Her testimony painted a picture of recurring abuse and intimidation tactics used by Diddy to silence victims and witnesses.

Quote:
"I hope you forgive me. We're honestly lucky to be alive."
— Diddy (as interpreted from text messages)

Key Takeaways and Implications

Cassie's Credibility: The defense's attempts to portray Cassie as unreliable—through financial settlements, personal relationships, and the audio recording—present significant challenges to the prosecution's case. However, Cassie's emotional testimony and the consistency of her allegations may resonate strongly with jurors.
Diddy's Defense Tactics: The introduction of varied and sometimes disjointed evidence by the defense may have backfired, potentially weakening their overall strategy by appearing scattered and inconsistent.
Emotional Impact on Jurors: The raw emotions displayed by Cassie and the presence of her supportive husband likely had a profound impact on the jurors, humanizing her and underscoring the personal cost of the trial.
Future Proceedings: With Dawn Richard set to testify on Monday, the case promises further revelations that could sway the trial's outcome.

Conclusion and What's Next

After a tumultuous four days, Cassie Ventura's testimony concluded, leaving the courtroom charged with emotion and anticipation. Her statements, combined with the defense's aggressive tactics, set the stage for the next phases of the trial. Ashleigh Banfield underscores the significance of these developments, emphasizing how they shape the narrative and influence public perception.

Final Quote:
"Cassie Ventura, the prosecution's most powerful witness, now off the stand and still very, very pregnant. She could have that baby at any time, but her testimony is going to echo through this trial long after today."
— Ashleigh Banfield

Looking Ahead

The trial continues with the anticipation of Dawn Richard's testimony and the introduction of further evidence and possibly more celebrity witnesses. As the stakes remain exceedingly high, Ashleigh promises to keep listeners informed of every critical development.

Stay Tuned:
Join Ashleigh Banfield next Thursday for another episode of Drop Dead Serious as the trial unfolds with new witnesses and deeper investigations into the intricate web of allegations surrounding Sean "Diddy" Combs.

Transcript

Ashley Banfield (0:07)

Hey everybody, I'm Ashley Banfield and this is drop dead serious. Five days down, dozens more to go in the Sean Diddy Combs federal sex trafficking trial. But today was day four for his ex girlfriend, Cassie Ventura. She's been on the stand as the government's so star witness. But today she was finally able to wrap things up. Cassie's testimony officially ended at 3:20pm today. And that might not seem like such a big deal, but trust me when I say it was. It was a big old deal. Because the prosecutors were starting to sweat. They were worried that the defense was deliberately dragging their feet and trying to stretch Cassie's testimony out just, just long enough to force her back into court on Monday. And that matters because it would have given P. Diddy the entire weekend to just hang out in his cell with a transcript and a pen and basically mark up everything that Cassie has said on the stand so far. He'd have hours upon hours to pick it apart detail by detail and then prep his lawyers for another round of blistering cross examination next week. And there is also that other big thing like huge her tummy. Cassie is about nine months pregnant and the prosecution was absolutely facing the possibility that she could have gone into labor before even finishing her testimony. But she made it through and what came out in the final stretch was pretty explosive. Beyond the kinky free coughs, there was cringe worthy cheating bombshell information about a $10 million settlement that would be on top of a $20 million settlement. Cassie also broke down in tears on the stand. And the defense played a jaw dropping audio tape that made Cassie sound a hell of a lot more gangsta than a calm and poised pregnant mom of two on the stand. So let's go back to the beginning of the day and walk through it all. Diddy is still wearing that same outfit. I do not get it. It's the same cream colored sweater, the same white collared shirt, the same light colored pants. This is the fifth day in a row. I don't understand it. Look, I get it. Clothes do matter in a trial. It's why we don't have a defendant come to the defense table wearing an orange jumpsuit. Right? Because if you're dressed in an orange jumpsuit, jurors are going to look at you and think you must be guilty of something. You're he's dressed like an inmate. So yeah, when you're in front of the jury, you typically are allowed to wear street clothes, but nothing dictates that you have to wear the same street clothes every Single day. Look, some people don't have any money and some people's lawyers go out and buy them something to wear. So that's all they've got. But that's not Diddy. Diddy got money. Diddy is like a fashion maven. So I am just sort of fascinated why his lawyers haven't brought a different outfit for him. Still, you can be conservative and muted and all the rest, but why the same thing five days in a row? He wore a blue sweater, I think, for several days in a row for jury duty, for jury selection as well. So that was kind of weird too. So we'll see what he shows up with on Monday. New outfit, Same outfit. And will he continue to wear that same outfit in the meantime? Cassie dressed beautifully. She entered wearing an oversized dark blue striped blazer, dark pants and a light blue pinstripe shirt. Her hair was straight and it fell past her shoulders. She looked professional. She looked controlled and reserved. Seated on Diddy's side of the courtroom were his kids and his step kids and his extended family. So Justin Combs and Christian Combs and Quincy Brown and Carlucci Combs. But then over on the other side of the courtroom, on Cassie's side, that's where her husband, Alex Fine was seated. He's been there supporting her pretty much every day. Although I will tell you this, there was a point today where he had to be let out of the courtroom. It was during one of the more embarrassing moments for Cassie and frankly for him. So I will get to that in a minute. But it is sort of dramatic and I felt for him and I kind of feel like the jurors did too. Again, I'll get to that. Also behind Cassie, Cassie's brother, he was there. And her attorney, who's been there every day, Diddy's cousin, passed notes with a woman who was seated behind him. Justin Combs looked like he was writing something, possibly notes. Alex Fine, Cassie's husband, sat right behind her, chewing gum. And every so often he stared Diddy down. So, yeah, drama. A lot of people have been mentioning this, by the way, people who've been in the courtroom that he looks over at Diddy and what's like almost bears through him, bores holes in Diddy. The reason I mentioned this is not, you know, just because it's an aside, is because courts are like original reality tv. They truly are dramatic because the stakes are real and the stakes are usually big. Like for Diddy, their life in prison big. Right? So the day began like a legal ping pong match. Prosecution and defense were already locked in arguing over what Cassie should be allowed to testify to. Specifically, a video clip that the defense wanted to introduce. It showed Diddy In April of 2016, just after the infamous Intercontinental Hotel beating video. He's out, surrounded by nature, apparently during a stint in rehab. The video was played in open court, and in it, Diddy is standing in front of a giant boulder and he speaks calmly straight to the camera and says, out here in nature, I want to wish you a great beautiful day. Approach everything with grace, love. As I grow old, I want to grow with you. That was it, though. We didn't get any context, we didn't get explanation, no idea who he was filming that video for, just that video weeks after that beating. And while that video played, the gallery was watching every move. At the defense table, Diddy sat shoulder to shoulder with his lead attorney, Mark Agnifolo. Literally, their chairs and their shoulders were touching and they whispered back and forth non stop. His other lawyer, Ana Esteveo, the one cross examining Cassie, she was making a lot of pretty rookie mistakes. And it was grating on some of the jurors. Like visibly. She kept pulling up exhibits before the judge had even admitted them. Diddy's defense team was also talking about exhibits before putting them on the jurors monitors, which you could tell was visibly annoying the jurors. Ana Esteveo seemed kind of scattered. She'd show something to the jury and then she'd yank it back, and then she'd switch to something else and then she'd jump around on the timeline a bit like a pinball. And I have to say that the most important thing for lawyers who are prosecuting or defending is to make sure that the jury can follow you. I get it. It's important to get things on the record. It's important to enter things in things into evidence. It's important to do all the box checking that you need to do for your case. But in the end, if you don't get the jury a full flowchart and picture and narrative of what happened, they might forget all those important things you tried to jam into the case wherever you could. Right? So if you're watching a trial sometimes and you just don't understand why they're jumping around, they shouldn't be. I get it. Sometimes witnesses can't show up exactly in the timeline that you'd like to have them testify. They're busy, they've got lives, whatever. But generally speaking, it's really important to tell the jurors a story. One they can digest and think about during deliberations because, trust me, they're not going to reread everything you did. Once they get into the deliberation room, they'll go, they'll refer back and look at a couple things, but they're not going to read your dang case start to finish to try to put it all into perspective. They're going to go with what they got, and that's what you gave them. So it's weird that Diddy's defense team was kind of messing things up and a bit scattershot, and I don't think it's a good strategy. As the day rolled on, the defense brought jurors back to 2016, to the aftermath of that horrible Intercontinental Hotel beating. Video. Earlier in the trial, Cassie had confirmed under oath that she was assaulted by Diddy in that hallway. But we hadn't heard what happened in the days that followed. Today, though we did through the couple's own text messages. And they were powerful. Cassie wrote, when you get fucked up the wrong way, you always want to show me that you have the power and you knock me around. I'm not a rag doll. I'm someone's child. But then a series of messages from just days after that horrible beating. Diddy says, I'm so horny for you. Cassie answers, you are? Why? What made you feel that way? Diddy says, I felt that way from Friday. Wyd. What you doing? Cassie says, not a good vibe. We need a different vibe from Friday. Diddy says, Friday, lol. I don't even want to do that again. And Cassie answers, lol. True. I gotta stop here because I am assuming they're talking about Friday because the attack happened on Friday. Fuck Friday. Lol. What kind of a response is that to what we witnessed with our own eyes was a horrendous beating. It wasn't some small affair that went awry. Fuck Friday. Lol. Not sure I understand Cassie either. Lol. True. I don't want that vibe again. Like, it's just so perplexing to see how Diddy is just casting off the severity of what happened to Cassie in that hallway. And I'm wondering if the jury feels the same way. But this is how they talked. Just days after the hotel assault, the defense then showed everyone a selfie that Cassie had taken. She was wearing sunglasses and her lips were visibly swollen. She had previously testified that she took that selfie in an Uber right after the beating at the hotel. But today she told Diddy's lawyer that she didn't remember taking it or much of what happened afterwards. Diddy's lawyer tried to chip away at Cassie's memory and her character, asking about jealousy, about past arguments, about Cassie's behavior during other times in their relationship. And Cassie described an incident around her 30th birthday. She said that Diddy told her to call her mom. And when she unlocked her phone to do just that, he suddenly snatched her phone away from her. She said Diddy suspected her of cheating and was hell bent on finding out. And she said he didn't return her phone. No. Didn't give it back. Cassie later returned home to her mom without her phone, and that prompted her mother to call the police, terrified for Cassie's safety. And Cassie confirmed that Diddy had a pattern of doing this, of taking her phone when he was angry. She even referenced an incident in 2013 when she says that she was dancing with Chris Brown in a club and that Diddy took her phone then, too. The defense then suggested Cassie was also cheating with an NFL player. And her response? I don't know if I would call it cheating at that point. When you're not with someone, it's not cheating. We weren't married. But then came one of the most dramatic turns of the day. It was an audio recording between Cassie and a friend named sujeet. This was 2014. Cassie suspected that Sujeet might have a video of her from a freak off and Cassie was demanding to see it on the stand. She explained that we were in Atlantic City. I had just hosted a set of parties. Then the defense played the recording and the courtroom froze. Cassie's voice came through the speakers, raw and frantic and angry and unhinged. Video of me touching myself is important to my life. So who was me? You have it. What wouldn't you. What wouldn't you show me? She screamed, I will kill you. If you don't show it to me right now, I will cut you up. I will put you in the dirt right now. And it didn't stop there. She continued screaming, put that up right now. I'm tired of you talking. It's not going to be blood on my hands. Someone else is going to do it. I will kill you and then he will kill you. I've never killed anyone in my life, but I will kill you. Not by my hands. No blood on my hands. Cassie said she told Diddy about the exchange with Sujeet and that Diddy responded, I'll take care of it. The defense tried to argue that both Cassie and Diddy were aligned on one thing. That they Both did not want these videos getting into the wrong hands. But the defense was more likely trying to show the jury that there's another side of Cassie, a very different side of Cassie from the pregnant, soft spoken mother of two who's been painting Diddy as a criminal for the last four days. She was asked about drug use, that she was prescribed buprenorphine in 2022 for opioid addiction, and that in 2023, she spent 45 days at Willow House, a rehab facility. That's where she said she began writing her book, the Dark Times. Diddy's lawyer asked if she'd been treated there for love or sexual addiction. Cassie said no. And after a break, the testimony turned even more personal. Cassie told the jury that she had confessed to her husband Alex that she had been raped by Diddy. But next, Cassie admitted that on September 27, 2018, a month after the alleged rape, she met up with Diddy again and that they were intimate. At the time. She was already dating Alex, the man she's now married to, the man who's been there for her. In court, she testified that she ignored a FaceTime call from Alex while she was having sex with Diddy. Lucky for Alex, he had been led out of the courtroom right before this awkward testimony. But no wonder. He's been glaring at Diddy throughout this trial, boring holes in Diddy with his eyes. This is an important moment, too, because the jury doesn't miss a lot. They are looking around, they're bored a lot. So they look around the court and they're always wondering who's who, who's there for the defendant, who's there for the victims, how are they behaving, what are they dressed in? And I will say this, the men on the jury may feel very particular about a scenario whereby Cassie is back with Diddy, having sex with him and ignoring a FaceTime call from her boyfriend, who becomes her husband, who's standing by her in court. It could make them angry at her. It could make them feel different about her. It could make them feel her credibility is shoddy. If she's a cheater, is she also a liar? And by the end of the day, the defense wasn't just on offense. They were going for the jugular. Cassie's credibility. Diddy's lawyer questioned her timeline. Cassie had told federal prosecutors that Diddy raped her in August of 2018. But in her previous civil lawsuit, that same allegation was dated September of 2018. So which was it? Diddy's lawyers presented a string of text messages that were exchanged between Cassie and diddy in August of 2018, writing right around the time the alleged assault happened. In one message, Cassie wrote, hit me when you can, heart. In another, diddy texted her, I know I look bad to you. I could tell I didn't turn you on. Yesterday, I fell off. To the defense, those messages didn't sound like the aftermath of a rape. They sounded familiar, playful, maybe personal. But then again, to a sex assault survivor, they might sound entirely like a guy who just forced himself on an unwilling partner. And every juror is completely different. Then diddy's lawyer pointed to the messages that cassie sent diddy Just one month later, as their relationship crumbled for good, Diddy's lawyer asked Cassie, you don't say anything to the effect of the last time we saw each other, you raped me, right? And cassie admitted, right. In fact, you're saying you want to keep the peace. And cassie responded, right. And then came this moment. Cassie said, I have no doubt I was raped in August of 2018, even if we had consensual contact afterwards. And the defense pointed to a May 2024 social media post where she wrote, domestic violence is the issue. And then the defense pulled a new card from the deck. For the first time in this trial, they introduced the possibility of a mental health defense. Diddy's lawyer asked cassie about what she told investigators about diddy's behavior on the night of the alleged rape in 2018. Cassie testified that diddy had been nice, but strangely so during dinner that evening that something about him felt off, that he wasn't in his right mind, Especially when she was begging him to stop the alleged rape and he didn't. That's when diddy's lawyer brought up something prosecutors had noted earlier in the investigation. That his behavior that night could be attributed to bipolar disorder. Diddy's lawyer asked cassie to confirm it, and she responded, I guess so. Cassie then testified that the last time she saw diddy was when she attended a memorial service for a woman named kim porter. That's the mother of Diddy's four kids. The memorial was in November of 2018, and during the service, Diddy referred to Kim porter as his soul mate. And that devastated cassie. Afterwards, she texted him, I want to be there for you. And you posted, kim was your soulmate. What was the 11 years all about? At the mention of kim porter's memorial service, I should note that the attorney who represents kim porter's kids who was sitting in court, she was wiping away tears. And after lunch, there was more Redirect, examination and more recrossed, prosecution asked Cassie had she been beaten many times. And that's when Cassie broke down in tears. And when prosecutors asked her how it felt to be beaten by the man she lived with, slept beside, and tried to love during what he called sex marathons, her answer stopped the courtroom cold. Cassie replied, worthless. I'm just like dirt. Like I didn't matter to him. Like I was nothing. Absolutely nothing. Henri Cross. The defense pushed back on the claim that Cassie's music career was sidelined because of her trauma, because of her time with Diddy, because of the job she said Diddy became and the freakoffs became. Instead, the defense lawyers pointed out her mixtape Rockabye Baby and her collaborations with Nicki Minaj, Pusha T and Rick Ross. These were things Cassie had testified she was proud of. But don't forget, Cassie had also testified that she had a 10 record deal with Diddy's Bad Boy Records and only produced one album. Then, to walk jurors through the final unraveling of the relationship, prosecutors outlined the following timeline from 2018. August, the closure dinner. September, the alleged rape. September 26, Cassie texts, We can embrace LOL. September 27, Cassie and Diddy have consensual sex. October 5, Cassie texts, I miss you, feel lost without you. November 18, Cassie attends Kim Porter's memorial. November 19, Cassie texts, what was the 11 years all about? Then a jaw dropping bombshell was unleashed on this court. Cassie testified that recently she settled a lawsuit with the Intercontinental Hotel. That's the site of the 2016 beating incident in the hallway. And that lawsuit was settled for $10 million. So if you do the math, that would bring Cassie's total compensation from settling legal action to $30 million, $20 million from Diddy, 10 million from the hotel. And with that, Diddy's lawyer zeroed in on a moment from January 2024, when Cassie had been scheduled to tour Australia and New Zealand. Cassie was asked, as soon as you saw you were going to get 20 million, you canceled the tour because you didn't need it, right? Cassie responded, that's not why I canceled. She didn't elaborate further, but the implication was clear. The defense wanted jurors thinking this wasn't about healing, this was about cash. And as the defense tried to reshape the story from control and coercion to closure and complexity, they introduced something new. A string of text messages between Diddy and Cassie. Messages that were sent years after the alleged abuse, even after Cassie had married Alex. Fine. In one of the final exchanges between them, dated March 7, 2020. Diddy wrote, you were my ride or die. Cassie responded, the things you said blew my mind a bit. I don't hate you. I never have. I know we need closure and understanding. Then one more message from Diddy, a kind of digital eulogy to their relationship. One day. I hope you forgive me. We're honestly lucky to be alive. We went hard. Please know I send this message with all respect to your marriage. Love. Don't forget, Diddy has another name. It's love. So that love that he put in that text is his name, as opposed to love. I love you. I know. It's complicated. And then a strangely quiet moment that carried some massive weight. The defense asked, did you shape each other? And at that very moment, at the exact same time, they both nodded. Cassie on the witness stand, Diddy at the defense table. No words, just two heads moving in sync, nodding on opposite sides of the courtroom. And a lifetime of pain between them. After four grueling days on the witness stand, Cassie Ventura finally stepped away from the courtroom. And her next statement came not under oath, but straight from the heart. In a written message released through her attorneys, Cassie described her testimony as extremely challenging, but also remarkably empowering and healing for me. She said she hoped her voice might help others, other survivors, find theirs. She thanked her family, her advocates, and all the people who'd offered kindness through the week. And with one final line, she let the world know she was ready to move forward. Quote, I'm glad to put this chapter of my life to rest. As I turn to focus on the conclusion of my pregnancy, I ask for privacy for me and my growing family. But it wasn't just Cassie who spoke out. Her husband, Alex Fine, also released a statement read outside the courthouse by Cassie's attorney. Over the past five days, the world has gotten to witness the strength and bravery of my wife freeing herself of her past. I have felt so many things sitting there. Alex finds statement read, tremendous pride, overwhelming love for Cass, and profound anger that she's been forced to sit in front of a man who tried to break her. You did not break her spirit. You did not break her smile. You did not break the soul of a mother who gives the best hugs and plays the silliest games with our little girls. You did not break the woman who has made me a better man. Cassie saved Cassie. She alone broke free from abuse, coercion, violence, and threats. She did the work of fighting the demons that only a demon himself could have done to her. Meanwhile, back inside the courtroom, prosecutors were calling Their next witness, an FBI agent, Special Agent Yasin Binda. The agent testified about a raid that happened back in September of 2024 at the Park Hyatt Hotel in Manhattan. Do you remember that? That's where Diddy had been staying as he was trying to negotiate his surrender in the federal case. But somewhere in that negotiation, he got blindsided and they just broke in and arrested him. There was no negotiation. There was no surrender. They came in and put the cuffs on him and marched him out of the hotel. And here is some jaw dropping color from that arrest. Something none of us ever expected. The agents entered his room, room number 2115. And what they found in there was stunning bags of Astroglide and baby oil in the entry closet, more lube in the bathtub. And the nightstand, a pill bottle labeled Frank Black, allegedly an alias. And that pill bottle contained Klonopin, a drug inside the nightstand drawer, pink pills, later confirmed to be ketamine and MDMA. They also found $9,000 in cash in the room. Photos of all of this were shown to the jurors. And at one point, the bag of pink drugs was actually passed around so that they could inspect it firsthand. I mean, think about this. This is astounding. Think about Diddy at this point. He knows that he's on the Fed's radar, right? He knows that there's been this intense investigation after Cassie sued him with all these allegations involving the lube and the baby oil and the drugs, you name it, and still he's in a hotel just eight months ago with all of these things that mirror the evidence that Cassie brought up at her. Testimony mirrored it. Eight months ago, he's in a hotel being arrested with all that free cough supply like stuff. It just kind of defies logic. Next up, witness Dawn Richard, a singer who rose to fame in the group Danity Kane and later joined Diddy Dirty Money. Don filed a civil suit against Diddy in September of 2024, claiming that he once broke into her dressing room and groped her breasts and her behind. On the stand, dawn testified that in 2009, she witnessed Diddy in a fit of rage, screaming at Cassie about his breakfast, of all things. She said he shouted, where the are my eggs? And then grabbed a skillet full of food and tried to hit Cassie over the head with it. Don said Cassie was curled into a fetal position on the floor, but that it didn't stop there. Don told the jury that Diddy then punched her and kicked her, put his arm around her neck and dragged her upstairs by the hair. It wasn't the only time, she says, that she saw violence. She said it happened often. She admitted she was too shocked to intervene and that she did not tell the police. And the next day, Diddy allegedly locked her and another person inside his home recording studio and told them exactly how they should interpret what they'd seen. Dawn testified that Diddy said what we saw was passion, what lovers in passionate relationships do, that Cassie was fine and that it would be in our best interests if we didn't say anything. And then came the real threat. She said, according to Dawn Richard, Diddy reminded them that he was trying to take them to the top of the industry. But where he was from, people go missing if they talk. And then she testified that Diddy gave Dawn and this other person who was present flowers. Don told the jury she thought she knew exactly what that meant, that he was threatening death. And that is where we leave it for this episode. Dawn Richard is going to be back on the witness stand on Monday. Cassie Ventura, the prosecution's most powerful witness, now off the stand and still very, very pregnant. She could have that baby at any time, but her testimony is going to echo through this trial long after today. Up next, federal agents, possibly more celebrity witnesses and deeper questions about who knew what and when. I'm Ashley Banfield. Thank you so much for listening. Thank you so much for watching. And remember, the truth isn't just serious, It's Drop Dead series.