NEW YORK — Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, the former girlfriend of hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, is expected to take the stand Tuesday as the government’s star witness in a high-profile federal sex trafficking trial that has gripped the entertainment world. Her testimony follows the courtroom premiere of damning hotel surveillance footage showing Combs violently assaulting her in 2016.

Federal prosecutors allege that Combs, 55, led a covert network in which he manipulated, coerced, and trafficked women under the guise of romantic relationships. According to opening statements delivered Monday in Manhattan federal court, Combs allegedly used luxury, fame, and drugs to lure women into what prosecutors described as multi-day sex-fueled parties—known by insiders as “Freak Offs”—and then used recorded footage of these encounters to blackmail his victims into silence or further participation.

“These were not parties,” lead prosecutor Emily Johnson told jurors. “These were calculated crimes. When the women resisted or pushed back, Combs viciously attacked them—physically, emotionally, and psychologically.”

On the first day of evidence, jurors viewed a surveillance video that prosecutors argue lays bare Combs’ violent behavior. The video, recorded in the hallway of a Los Angeles-area hotel in 2016, shows Combs—clad only in a towel—throwing Ventura to the ground, kicking her, and forcibly pulling her belongings into the corridor. Ventura appears visibly distressed and attempts to flee into an elevator before being dragged away. The footage, first aired by CNN in 2023, drew widespread public outrage and prompted renewed scrutiny of Combs’ alleged history of abuse.

Combs previously issued an apology following the video’s public release but denied all criminal allegations. In court, defense attorney Marc Agnifilo acknowledged the incident but characterized it as the heated aftermath of an argument about infidelity, not a criminal act.

Combs has pleaded not guilty to five felony counts, including racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transporting individuals across state lines for prostitution. If convicted on all counts, the music mogul faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years and up to life imprisonment.

Combs, once celebrated for his pivotal role in shaping modern hip-hop by launching the careers of artists like Notorious B.I.G. and Mary J. Blige, is now fighting for his legacy and freedom. His legal team argues that federal prosecutors are attempting to criminalize his personal lifestyle, describing his behavior as part of a consensual “swingers” culture rather than criminal enterprise.

“Sean Combs is not on trial for being flawed. He is not perfect. But domestic violence is not sex trafficking,” defense attorney Teny Geragos told jurors in her opening remarks. “This case is about capable adults making voluntary, albeit unconventional, choices.”

Cassie, a rhythm and blues singer who dated Combs for nearly a decade, is expected to provide key testimony detailing not only her personal experiences but also the alleged inner workings of the so-called Freak Off parties. Prosecutors say Ventura and several other women were manipulated with drugs and threats into performing sexually in hotel rooms, often in elaborate costumes, for Combs’ gratification and under surveillance.

“They will tell you about some of the most painful experiences of their lives,” prosecutor Johnson said. “About the days they spent trapped in hotel rooms, high on drugs, forced to enact his fantasies while he recorded everything for leverage.”

Geragos, however, told the jury that Ventura’s testimony would be used to “sensationalize” what were, in her view, consensual adult relationships. She also signaled the defense would attempt to undercut Ventura’s credibility, noting in pre-trial motions that she had a “history of domestic disputes.”

In addition to Ventura, two to three more women who were previously involved with Combs are expected to testify. Prosecutors also plan to call several of Combs’ former employees who allegedly facilitated his activities or helped conceal his conduct.

On Monday, the jury also heard testimony from Daniel Phillip, a male stripper who said he was paid to have sex in front of Combs on multiple occasions in 2012 and 2013. Phillip described a disturbing scene in which Combs allegedly threw a liquor bottle at Ventura before dragging her by the hair into another room—another alleged instance of violence that prosecutors argue points to a broader pattern of abuse and coercion.

The trial, which is expected to last two months, represents one of the most consequential legal showdowns involving a music industry titan in recent memory. Prosecutors contend that behind the façade of success, Combs operated a secretive and abusive ring that victimized multiple women over several years. The case has reignited broader conversations around power, consent, and abuse in the entertainment world.

Combs, through his attorneys, remains adamant that his actions, while sometimes morally questionable, were not illegal. But with graphic video evidence and multiple accusers set to testify, the trial now hinges on whether jurors believe that what occurred behind closed doors crossed the line from private choice into criminal conspiracy.