Cassie Ventura’s mother, Regina Ventura, took the witness stand during Sean “Puffy” Combs’ sex-trafficking trial on Tuesday, May 20. Regina Ventura testified a week after her daughter’s 4-day testimony about her abusive relationship with Combs.
Regina testified that government exhibit photos showing bruises on her daughter were taken when Cassie came home for Christmas in 2011. Regina said she took the photos herself to keep as evidence.
“She was bruised, and I wanted to make sure that we memorialized it,” Regina told the jury.
Federal prosecutors asked Regina about an incident that occurred while Cassie cheated on Combs with rapper Kid Cudi.
Regina testified that she received an email in December 2011 from Cassie saying that Combs was so angry about the relationship with Cudi that he planned to release sexually explicit videos of her and send someone to hurt them.
Regina said she was forced to pay Combs $20,000 so the videos would not be leaked.
Regina recalled she received a demand from Combs for $20,000 in cash “to recoup money he had spent on [Ventura] because he was unhappy she was in a relationship with Kid Cudi,” according to CNN.
“He was angry that he had spent money on her and she went with another person,” Regina told the jury.
Regina said she borrowed the money using a home equity loan because “I was scared for my daughter’s safety.”
Combs wired the $20,000 back to Regina days later, and her daughter began dating Combs again.
CNN reports that the government has bank records that shows both transactions.
Other government witnesses expected to take the stand during Combs’ 2-month trial include Combs’s former personal chef, former Danity Kane member Aubrey O’Day, and male escorts.
