Alleged Combs texts read in court

In May 2024, CNN published a clip of hotel surveillance video from 2016 that appeared to show Combs attacking his then-girlfriend cassiaborn Cassandra Ventura. (The attack was associated with an alleged incident detailed in the lawsuit he filed against Combs on Nov. 16, 2023; both sides announced a settlement the next day.)

“I was mad. I hit rock bottom,” Combs said in a video posted to Instagram in response to the shooting. “But I make no excuses. My behavior in that video is inexcusable. I take full responsibility for my actions in that video.” Since then, he has gone to therapy and rehab, he added, and is “committed to being a better person every day.”

During a Sept. 18 hearing on Combs’ second release request, Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Johnson said, according to NBC News, that Combs allegedly sent a text message in the days following the assault which read: “Call me, the police are here.” Another read: “I have six children. Call, I’m surrounded.”

Johnson did not say Cassie’s name in court. She said Combs’ victim responded via text message: “Holy shit, you think it’s okay to do what you did.”

Bail was again denied, this time by a US district judge Andrew L. Carter Jr.