Howard College trustees on Friday voted to rescind an honorary diploma granted to Sean “Diddy” Combs, citing a lately surfaced video of the hip-hop mogul repeatedly attacking Casandra “Cassie” Ventura in a Los Angeles lodge in 2016.
Trustees of the Washington, D.C., college additionally disbanded a scholarship in Combs’ identify and terminated a 2016 “reward settlement” wherein Combs had contributed $1 million by means of his basis, in line with a college assertion. His basis’s future monetary pledges have additionally been canceled.
The college, which Combs attended, mentioned the vote “to just accept the return … of the honorary diploma conferred upon him in 2014” was unanimous.
“Mr. Combs’ habits as captured in a lately launched video is so essentially incompatible with Howard College’s core values and beliefs that he’s deemed not worthy to carry the establishment’s highest honor,” the assertion continued. “The college is unwavering in its opposition to all acts of interpersonal violence.”
Friday’s determination is the newest setback for Combs, and comes as federal prosecutors in New York are contemplating whether or not a Homeland Safety Investigations probe into alleged intercourse trafficking ought to lead to legal costs.
Within the 2016 video, obtained and printed by CNN final month, Combs is seen chasing, kicking, dragging and hurling a glass vase at Ventura, who was his girlfriend on the time. The video appeared to verify a minimum of among the bodily abuse allegations towards the singer detailed in a lawsuit filed in November — accusations Combs had denied.
That lawsuit was settled a day after it was filed in U.S. District Court docket for the Southern District of New York. In it, Ventura alleged that Combs “turned extraordinarily intoxicated and punched” her within the face, “giving her a black eye” throughout an assault in March 2016.
In a video assertion posted on Instagram days after the video’s launch, Combs mentioned, “My habits on that video is inexcusable. I take full duty for my actions in that video.”
“I used to be disgusted then once I did it. I’m disgusted now,” he added. “I went and I sought out skilled assist. I bought into going to remedy, going to rehab. I needed to ask God for his mercy and style. I’m so sorry. However I’m dedicated to be a greater man every day. I’m not asking for forgiveness. I’m actually sorry.”
Federal prosecutors are making ready grand jury subpoenas for witnesses to testify within the sex-trafficking investigation towards Combs, in line with a supply conversant in the matter.
Investigators have already interviewed a number of witnesses and instructed them to be ready to testify, the supply mentioned, although it stays unclear when that testimony will happen or how far federal officers are in figuring out whether or not to carry costs. The supply spoke on the situation of anonymity as a result of the case is ongoing.
Combs has not been charged with any crime and has denied any wrongdoing. The probe was launched after three girls, together with Ventura, accused him of rape, assault and different abuses courting again three many years.
In March, investigators looking out Combs’ Holmby Hills mansion emptied safes, dismantled electronics and left papers strewn in some rooms, sources instructed The Instances.
Combs’ legal professionals have strongly criticized the federal probe, calling the searches of his properties “militarized” and a “witch hunt.”
