Filipino American victim pushes to keep Sean "Diddy" Combs behind bars

Cassie Ventura had an abusive 20-year relationiship with Sean 'Dddy' Combs.

A New York jury found Sean "Diddy" Combs not guilty on racketeering and sex trafficking charges but guilty on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.

Evidently, the jury believed the defense's argument that the star witness, Filipino American singer Cassie Ventura consented to the abuse that she received from the Grammy award rapper. Combs was found not guilty of racketeering conspiracy and two counts of sex trafficking, but was found guilty of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution of Ventura and another woman identified as "Jane."

After the verdict was read, Douglas Wigdor, Ventura's lawyer, handed a letter to Judge Arun Subramanian. The letter urged the judge in Sean "Diddy" Combs' federal trial to deny his release on bond. In the letter, Wigdor shared Ventura's concern that Combs could pose a danger to her or others.

"Ms. Ventura believes that Mr. Combs is likely to pose a danger to the victims who testified in this case, including herself, as well as to the community," Wigdor wrote in the letter given to People.

The judge agreed and denied Combs bail. He will remain in custody until his sentencing at a date to be determined.

During the 28-day trial featuring 33 witnesses besides Vetura's. One of the key pieces of evidence was a security videotape at a Los Angeles hotel. Ventura tried to leave Combs' suite but he chased her into the hallway where he kicked and punched her as she curled up into a fetal position protect herself. The tape showed Combs grabbing her by the hair and pulling her back into the hotel room.

Subramanian ruled that psychologist Dawn Hughes was not allowed to discuss "coercive control," which is a type of domestic abuse. She was, however, allowed to discuss coping strategies for victims and explain why victims may stay in abusive or violent relationships. Victims can form trauma bonds with their abusers, she testified.

            FYI: Legal expert explains Combs' acquittals

After the verdict, Ventura's lawyer issued a statement to the media.

"This entire criminal process started when our client Cassie Ventura had the courage to file her civil complaint in November 2023,” Wigdor said in a July 2 statement to E! News.

“Although the jury did not find Combs guilty of sex trafficking Cassie beyond a reasonable doubt, she paved the way for a jury to find him guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution. By coming forward with her experience, Cassie has left an indelible mark on both the entertainment industry and the fight for justice. We must repeat – with no reservation – that we believe and support our client who showed exemplary courage throughout this trial.”

He went on to praise Ventura's courage for coming forward.

“She displayed unquestionable strength and brought attention to the realities of powerful men in our orbit and the misconduct that has persisted for decades without repercussion,” Wigdor continued. “This case proved that change is long overdue, and we will continue to fight on behalf of survivors."

Although he was found "not guilty" on the more serious charges of trafficking, thus avoiding a potential life sentence, Combs could still serve a maximum of 20 years behind bars for the two guilty verdicts of transportation. In addition, Combs still faces the possibility of scores of civil suits from other witnesses and victims.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X or at the blog Views From the Edge. Now on BlueSky.

The long road back: Chicago Cubs' Addison Russell battles inner demons

Chicago Cub's Addison Russell, left, and his ex-wife Melisa Reidy.

Chicago Cubs infielder Addison Russell returned to the club Wednesday and was greeted with a chorus of boos and a smattering of applause after serving a 40-game suspension for domestic abuse.

He went 0 for 3 at the plate.

The Filipino American ballplayer was suspended 40 games in September for violating the league's domestic abuse policy after an investigation into allegations of emotional, verbal and physical abuse made by his ex-wife, Melisa Reidy.

Russell, 25, was suspended 40 games in September for violating the league's domestic abuse policy after an investigation into allegations of emotional, verbal and physical abuse made by his ex-wife, Melisa Reidy, who is also Filipina American.

Before the allegations, Russell was a fan favorite for his timely hitting and sterling defense. However, he realizes the cheers have turned to jeers and that's something he will have to get used, to even from Cubs fans.

Besides league-mandated counseling, Russell also underwent therapy.

"I've just improved overall," Russell said to ESPN before he took the field. "Better relationships and communication with my teammates and family and friends. Just overall, I feel like I'm a better person," he said.

The Cubs have repeatedly said they want to be part of the solution as it concerns Russell and the "plague" of domestic abuse in society.

Russell's $3.4 million contract with the Cubs that he signed in December set conditions on the second baseman that includes following all league- and team-mandated guidelines for rehabilitation.

Russell's former wife's abuse allegations against Russell that she detailed in her social media pages are not unique among Asian Americans.

• 21 – 55% of Asian women in the U.S. report experiencing intimate physical and/or sexual violence during their lifetime, based on a compilation of disagregated samples of Asian ethnicities in local communities.

• 18% of Asian or Pacific Islander women reported experiencing rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime in a national survey, as compared to 48% of American Indians or Alaska Native women, 45% of Black women, 34% of Hispanic women, and 37% of White women.

Russell acknowledges the difficulties of his therapy but just getting back to the Cubs is a small step. 

"Hearing from my family and friends and also teammates that I've improved is a lot of assurance for me. And just continuing my therapy, as well. I know I'm making great strides. It's a long road ahead. There is no finish line, but I'm committed to this," Russell said.

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Addison Russell suspended 40 games for domestic abuse

After he serves his 40-game suspension, Addison Russell's future with the Cubs is uncertain

WEDNESDAY MORNING, Major League Baseball announced that Chicago Cubs shortstop Addison Russell has accepted a 40-game suspension without pay for violating MLB's Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy.

Russell's suspension is retroactive to Sept. 21. Russell has agreed not to appeal the discipline.

Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred issued the following statement regarding the suspension

"My office has completed its investigation into the allegations that Addison Russell violated Major League Baseball's Joint Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Child Abuse Policy. Having reviewed all of the available evidence, I have concluded that Mr. Russell violated the Policy and should be subject to discipline in the form of an unpaid suspension that will cover 40 games."

On Sept. 19, Russell's ex-wife, Melisa Reidy-Russell, a Filipina American, detailed the alleged domestic abuse in a long post on her personal blog where she wrote: 

"The first time I was physically mistreated by my spouse, I was in shock. I couldn't wrap my head around what just happened ... Why did he get so angry? What did I do for him to want to put his hands on me?" the author wrote. "Of course I forgave him and assumed it would never happen again. I just thought he had let his emotions get the best of him, he loves me and he's sorry.

SCREEN CAPTURE / WGN-TV

Melisa Reidy Russell .was interviewed on television Wednesday.

Reidy Russell continued:

"After he would calm down from his angry spells, I’d always get the most sincere apologies, making me believe how sorry he was & he’s working on bettering himself. One of his favorite excuses was that he was “young” & he’s still learning how to live right, he basically raised himself, he didn’t have nurturing parents like I did & he didn’t know how to love the way I did. But, somehow he could ALWAYS find a way to make me feel like it happened because of me, or because I wasn’t listening to him. It was ALWAYS my fault – You don’t realize it, but its a sick mind game that you get sucked into – All your source of happiness somehow is controlled by that one person, depending on how they decide to treat you on a daily basis. Feeling the need of affirmation from him became the main source of how I felt happiness. Always trying to please him to show him I was good enough, strong enough, worthy enough… it consumed me & before I realized it, I was so far gone from the person I used to be."

Through his attorney, Filipino American ballplayer Russell released a statement Wednesday afternoon saying: “After gaining a full understanding of the situation I have concluded it’s in the best interest of my family to accept MLB’s proposed resolution of this matter. I wish my ex-wife well and hope we can live in peace for the benefit of our child.”

After the suspension, it is uncertain whether or not the All-Star shortstop will return to the Cubs, which ended its season when it lost its one-game wild card playoff with the Colorado Rockies, Tuesday.

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The Cubs' Addison Russel might be ineligible for the post-season playoffs.

Addison Russell's baseball season may be over.

THE ALL-STAR shortstop for the Chicago Cubs, Addison Russell, might not be allowed to play in the post-season, which ends Sunday (Sept. 30).

The Filipino American baseball player was placed on leave last week by Major League Baseball following allegations that he was physically and verbally abusive during his marriage.

The Athletic reports that the MLB has “additional credible information” to support allegations by ex-wife Melisa Reidy-Russell that she endured physical and emotional abuse at the hands of her husband during their marriage, which lasted less than two years.
Russell says the allegations were completely false and that he expects any “full and fair” investigation to exonerate him.

The odds of Russell returning to the Cubs in time for the MLB playoffs appear slim, as every previous case of a player going on administrative leave resulted in a suspension without appeal.

The most notable recent case was then-Blue Jays close Roberto Osuna, who eventually received a 75-game suspension for a breach of the league’s domestic violence policy, reports Yahoo.

According to MLB's domestic violence policy, to punish a player does not require the “beyond a reasonable doubt” burden of proof seen in criminal courts, where domestic violence cases are more difficult to nail down, even in today's #MeToo environment. Instead, MLB only needs enough evidence to conclude that the player likely committed the abuse, with the player having the right to appeal any suspension in front of an independent arbitrator.

The MLB placed Russell on a week of administrative leave on Sept. 21, which would have ended Friday (Sept. 28). During Russell's absence the Cubs have since been losing ground in the last week of regular season games before the playoffs.

The estranged couple began divorce proceedings in 2017 after two years of marriage, in which Reidy alleges she faced constant emotional abuse that turned physical multiple times. She also alleged Russell frequently cheated on her, something she alluded to in an Instagram post celebrating a new beginning.

Russell, 24, made the All-Star team in 2016 when the Chicago Cubs won the World Series for the first time since 1908. Russell's glove and bat were key reasons the team were able to break the 110 year World Series drought.

Russell’s status with the Cubs is still in question and it is doubtful he will return to the team if the Cub's plays an extended post-season.
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Addison Russell's wife alleges abuse; Cubs shortstop placed on leave

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Addison Russell and his ex-wife Melisa Reidy-Russell

CHICAGO CUBS shortstop Addison Russell was placed on administrative leave by Major League Baseball Friday (Sept. 21) after his ex-wife wrote about alleged abuse by the Filipino American ballplayer.

After their divorce was finalized Aug. 30, Russell's former wife Melisa Reidy-Russell, who is a Filipina American, wrote that she suffered physical and emotional abuse throughout their two-year marriage and that the mistreatment severely affected her prompting MLB to act.

"With the new details revealed ... by Ms. Russell, Mr. Russell has been placed on Administrative Leave in accordance with the Joint MLB-MLBPA Domestic Violence Policy," MLB said in a statement Friday. "We are hopeful that this new information will allow us to complete the investigation as promptly as possible."

Last year, allegations of abuse arose from a friend of Reidy-Russell triggered an MLB investigation that remains open.

"The first time I was physically mistreated by my spouse, I was in shock," Reidy-Russell wrote. "I couldn't wrap my head around what just happened ... Why did he get so angry? What did I do for him to want to put his hands on me? Of course I forgave him & assumed it would never happen again. I just thought he had let his emotions get the best of him, he loves me and he's sorry. I was deeply hurt that he could even be capable of this behavior towards me, I couldn't understand how the man I was so in love with, the FATHER of my child, the man I married just a few months ago could show such aggression towards me."

Reidy-Russell wrote that emotional and verbal abuse became an "everyday thing" in their relationship.

RELATED: Addison Russell, Filipino American ballplayer

"Being blamed for just about anything that went wrong, name calling, intimidating me with personal force, manipulating me to think I was the problem, destroying my personal things, threatening me to 'send' me & our son home to my parents as if I was privileged to be living in our home," she wrote. "Basically, I felt like I was nothing, a nobody & I was nothing without him, & I couldn't do anything without him."

“We take allegations of domestic violence seriously and support the League’s decision to place Addison Russell on administrative leave given new details revealed today,” the Cubs said in a statement Friday. “We will continue to cooperate with the League’s investigation so the appropriate action can be taken.”

Chicago Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi told The Associated Press that the department has not launched a criminal investigation "at this point," but detectives will look at the allegations "further and have already reached out to the Cubs."

"Obviously, we take it very, very seriously," Cubs owner Tom Ricketts said to ESPN. "The place it's at right now, it's in the league's court to do the investigation."

Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said he again asked Russell on Friday if the allegations were true.

"We questioned him on it," Epstein said. "He reaffirmed his stance that he did not do what he is accused of having done."

"... It would have sent the wrong message to have Addison wearing a Chicago Cubs uniform this morning, so we fully support him being placed on administrative leave."

Reidy-Russell wrote that one incident of abuse occurred with their then-infant son present. She had moved back to her and Russell’s hometown of Pensacola, Fla., but said she returned to Chicago about a month later so the child could visit Russell.

“But, as I expected our visit was a nightmare, I swore to myself it would be the last time he’d lay his hands on me & it would be that last time I’d let my son be a witness to it,” she wrote.

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3 siblings killed; father detained

Kelvin Hodges with his sister, Julie and baby brother Lucas were found dead Wednesday night.

OVER 2000 family, friends, fellow students and strangers gathered Thursday night to express and share their grief over the death of three children, two of which were students at Southport Elementary School near Sacramento, California.

Nearly 2,000 people were in attendance for the vigil, all gathered to bid farewell to the children -- Kelvin, age 11, Julie, age 9, and Lucas, age 7 months, who were found dead Wednesday (Sept. 13) night.

Their father, Robert Hodges, 32, of West Sacramento, was taken into custody a few hours later in another part of West Sacramento by California Highway Patrol officers. He is expected to be arraigned Monday.

Details as to how they were killed have not yet been released. Attempts to revive the children by first responders failed.

"Something like this is very disturbing," West Sacramento police Sgt. Roger Kinney said.

"The officers are absolutely impacted, along with the firefighters, and certainly the family, the neighbors -- this call is going to have quite a bit of emotion. It's horrific, and it's very difficult to deal with. This is going to take not hours, not days, it's going to take a long time to come to grips with what happened there."

Kinney alleged that the mother was a victim of domestic violence. No details about what happened to her were released.

"Obviously, she's traumatized, and it's going to take some time to find out what's going on," Kinney said.

Today (Sept. 15), the mother posted an emotional entry on her Facebook page:

Thank you everyone for all your loves and support. It mean so much to me and my 3 children's. As for now I would like some quiet and privacy as I try to live through each day without my precious, loving children's.

There's many stories out there that aren't true of what happen. I still can't get the picture out of my head. For those that know Robbie know he was once a loving and caring husband and father to our children. I was never in abusive marriage, he had always been a caring and loving person, but for whatever reason went thru his mind, heart to do this I can never imagine why. And I ask myself everyday "why?"

"Heavenly Father, please hold my 3 babies into your home where they are warm, love and care forever. I know someday we will cross again. Until that day please know I love, miss, care and think of them everyday and night." Amen.

Funeral arrangements have not been announced yet.___________________________________________________________________________

MLB investigates allegations of domestic abuse vs. Cub's Addison Russell

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Addison and Melisa Russell.

ADDISON RUSSELL, the Filipino/American All-Star shortstop has been accused of commiting domestic abuse.

In a statement issued by the Chicago Cubs, Russell issued a brief statement:

"Any allegation I have abused my wife is false and hurtful,'' said Russell, 23 years old and the father of two. "For the well-being of my family, I'll have no further comment."

During Wednesday night's Cubs game against the Marlins, in which Addison Russell did not play, Melisa Russell posted a photo of herself in a bathing suit in a body of water accompanied by the text, which read: "Being free to be able to make your own choices for your own happiness beats being cheated on, lied to, & disrespected any day. #herestonewbeginnings #onlygetsbetterfromhere"

"Hateful is cheating on your wife, mentally and physically abusing her,'' family friend Carli Reed wrote in response. "Melisa didn't want that out but I'll say it. He hit her. In front of (kids) Aiden and Mila.''

"Last night, we were made aware of a serious claim posted on social media about Addison Russell. We reached out to Major League Baseball and, following the protocol established by MLB, will fully cooperate with the Commissioner's Office as it gathers pertinent facts," the Cubs said in a statement Thursday (June 8).

Following protocol, Major League Baseball is conducting an investigation on the allegations.

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AAPI cheer downfall of Trump's Labor Secretary nominee

Andrew Puzder's nomination for Labor Secretary brought out protests from his employees.

DONALD TRUMP'S pick to become Labor Secretary, Andrew Puzder, withdrew his name from nomination after a videotape of his ex-wife alleging domestic abuse surfaced.

Puzder, the CEO of the Hardee's and Carl's Jr. fast food chains, has seen his hearings delayed multiple times because he failed to fill out required financial and ethics forms, must overcome extremely damaging tapes alleging domestic abuse by his former wife, Lisa Fierstein.

Opposition from labor organizations should have been enough to question Puzder's qualifications, but his former wife's allegations may have been strong enough to sway some Republican senators to diverge from the party ranks. At least four of the Republican Senators were not going to vote for him, which would have denied him the Cabinet spot.

The Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO (APALA) vehemently opposed the confirmation of Puzder.

“A millionaire whose appalling track record has demonstrated his opposition to overtime pay and increasing the minimum wage and whose companies also have a history of workers’ rights violations, Puzder has no place in leading an agency meant to protect the very workers his companies continue to exploit,” declared Johanna Puno Hester, APALA National President and Assistant Executive Director of the United Domestic Workers, AFSCME Local 3930.

“Not only has Puzder shown that he is unqualified to be Labor Secretary but also has he shown his blatant misogyny and pursuit of an anti-woman agenda," added Monica Thammarath, APALA 1st Vice President and National Education Association Senior Liaison. 

The allegations from Fierstein, Puzder's wife from 1973 to 1987, apparently were too much for the GOP to ignore. She appeared on Oprah Winfrey's show in March of 1990 in a segment about "High-Class Battered Women." On the show, Fierstein, in disguise as "Ann," describes alleged abuse by Puzder and its impact on her life. 

"I wound up losing everything, everything," Fierstein told Winfrey. "I have nothing. He has a Porsche and a Mercedes-Benz. He has the home. He has everything. He was an attorney and he knew how to play the system." She also claimed that Puzder told her: "I will see you in the gutter. This will never be over, you will pay for this." 

Since then, Fierstein has regretted her appearance on Winfrey's show and has retracted her allegations saying Puzder was a fine man and father but the video of her testimony was too damaging for his chances of winning Senate votes.

“Let Puzder’s withdrawal be an example of how powerful organizing can be," said Puno. "Puzder was only one nomination in a larger set of Cabinet picks who seriously threaten the lives and freedom of people of color, women, LGBTQ communities, and all other marginalized groups, we call on our members, co-conspirators, and allies to continue to resist, organize, and fight back against this administration that is intentionally targeting and attacking our diverse communities and working families nationwide.”

Asian/American lawmakers posted messages expressed a sigh of relief:

“Last month, I met several workers who were denied paid leave and were required to serve and prep food when they were sick while they worked for Andrew Puzder's fast food corporation” Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Illinois, said in a statement. “No one should be forced to choose between taking care of themselves or a sick family member and earning a paycheck they cannot afford to go without. It was a mistake to nominate someone like Mr. Puzder who has spent his career exploiting workers and racking up labor violations. I hope the President chooses someone more qualified to lead the Labor Department.”

Read more here: http://www.bnd.com/news/local/article133001054.html#storylink=cpy