Assemblywoman Jessica Ramirez (D-32) has introduced a bill, referred to as “Cassie’s Law,” to penalize those who intentionally hide evidence of a crime inspired by an assault victim of Sean “P. Diddy” Combs.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“Survivors of abuse deserve every opportunity to pursue justice without obstruction, and we need to provide an avenue for retribution when obstruction does occur,” Ramirez said in a statement.
“Cassie [Ventura] should have been able to access her own evidence within the statute of limitations. This happens far too often to victims of domestic violence, and it needs to end now.”
A-5193, also sponsored by Assemblywomen Shavonda Sumter (D-35) and Ellen Park (D-37) came out an involving singer and model Cassie Ventura, whose then-boyfriend Sean “P. Diddy” Combs physically assaulted her in a hotel in 2016.
The hotel caught the attack on their security camera, but staff was bribed into hiding the video evidence. The footage substantiates Ventura’s claims of abuse, however, it only came to light in 2024 after the statute of limitations on her assault had expired.
“Under the bill, an act of concealment, alteration, or destruction of evidence that is intended to thwart law enforcement detection of an alleged offender in exchange for money or non-monetary compensation is defined as rendering criminal assistance,” the description says.
“The agreement itself, whether written or oral, express or implied, is rendered void. Moreover, the victim of the crime is granted a private right of action against the person or private entity who entered into the agreement.”
As a trial attorney specializing in representing survivors of sexual assault, Ramirez noted she is very familiar with the barriers survivors face and the ways the criminal justice system needs reform.
