(NewsNation) — Suge Knight, co-founder and former CEO of Death Row Records, said he believes Sean “Diddy” Combs will “be all right” even while he’s facing a federal criminal trial because President Donald Trump will “probably” pardon him if he’s convicted.
Knight called into “CUOMO” just hours after his name was mentioned by singer Casandra “Cassie” Ventura during her testimony in Combs’ ongoing federal criminal trial. Knight is serving a 28-year prison sentence in California for voluntary manslaughter.
“I don’t think Cassie is in a situation where she has to lie,” he said. “I don’t think she’s in a situation where she’s got to worry anymore.”
‘Puffy’s not a dummy’: Suge Knight on Diddy
Ventura, who is Combs’ ex-partner, recalled an incident in which Combs allegedly left his Los Angeles home during a “Freak Off” sex party with his security guard, guns in hand and wearing black masks, to confront Knight at Mel’s Drive-In, a diner.
Ventura said Combs returned home but did not say if he told her what had transpired. Knight didn’t specifically recall the incident but said he used to visit that diner frequently.
As for the charges, Knight said Combs has “influence” that could sway the case in his favor, either with prosecutors or the jury.
“Puffy’s not a dummy,” he said. “I’m sure somebody’s going to talk to one or two of those jurors, and all you need is one of them.”
“I think he’s going to be all right,” Knight said.
Cassie testifies about Diddy’s ‘Freak Offs’
During her first day of testimony, Ventura told the jurors, “If they were violent arguments, it would usually result in some sort of physical abuse and dragging, just different things.”
She said that Combs would drag and kick her, and stomp her on the head, claiming that this happened “too frequently.” When asked about Diddy’s alleged “Freak Offs,” she said they would hire an escort to set up “this experience so that I could perform for Sean.”
Cassie Ventura takes an oath before testifying in Manhattan federal court, Tuesday, May 13, 2025, in New York. (Elizabeth Williams via AP) 
Cassie Ventura wipes tears from her eye while testifying in Manhattan federal court, Tuesday, May 13, 2025, in New York. (Elizabeth Williams via AP) 
Cassie Ventura, right, walks out of the courtroom past Sean Diddy Combs after testifying in Manhattan federal court, Tuesday, May 13, 2025, in New York. (Elizabeth Williams via AP) 
Cassie Ventura, a longtime associate and former girlfriend of Combs, previously filed the civil suit that triggered the criminal investigation. 
NEW YORK, NY – MAY 07: Cassie Ventura and Sean “Diddy” Combs attend the Heavenly Bodies: Fashion & The Catholic Imagination Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 7, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by John Shearer/Getty Images for The Hollywood Reporter) 
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs and Cassie Ventura attend the Costume Institute Gala 2018 at Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York 
Singer and model Cassie Ventura (L) and Rap mogul P Diddy (aka Sean Combs) arrive for the traditionnal Clive Davis party on the eve of the 60th Annual Grammy Awards on January 28, 2018, in New York. / AFP PHOTO / Jewel SAMAD (Photo credit should read JEWEL SAMAD/AFP via Getty Images) 
NEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 27: Cassie (L) and recording artist Sean “Diddy” Combs attend the Clive Davis and Recording Academy Pre-GRAMMY Gala and GRAMMY Salute to Industry Icons Honoring Jay-Z on January 27, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)
She also said that she couldn’t say no to being involved because she was afraid of violence and threats of blackmail.
“For me, it was dissociative and numbing,” she said. “I couldn’t imagine myself doing any of that without having some sort of buffer or way to not feel it for what it really was, which was emotionless sex with a stranger that I didn’t really want to have sex with.”
Ventura said her singing career was paused because these events turned into a “full-time job,” with days needed for recovery.
Cassie, who is now late in the third trimester of her pregnancy, is set to testify again Wednesday.