Sean “Diddy” Combs’ legal battle has taken another turn, as his defense team has made serious accusations against CNN regarding the 2016 surveillance video showing Diddy assaulting Cassie. The footage, which surfaced last year and plays a pivotal role in Combs’ upcoming trial, is now being questioned for its authenticity by the disgraced mogul’s legal team.
According to USA Today, in a letter submitted to the presiding judge by both Combs’ attorneys and federal prosecutors, his legal team asserted that a forensic analysis has uncovered significant alterations in the video. The defense claims that CNN “substantially altered” the footage, obscuring its time stamp and accelerating the playback speed “to make it falsely appear that the actions in the video are taking place faster than they are.”
Furthermore, they alleged that “CNN purchased the only known copy of the Hotel’s surveillance footage, uploaded that footage into a free editing software, altered the video; and then destroyed the original footage.”
With these allegations, Combs’ attorneys intend to have the video dismissed as evidence. Despite this, Combs has already publicly acknowledged his actions in the video, posting a since-deleted remorseful statement last year.
“My behavior on that video is inexcusable… I take full responsibility for my actions in that video. I’m disgusted. I was disgusted then when I did it, (and) I’m disgusted now,” he confessed at the time. His legal team, however, claimed the hotel footage was not evidence of sex trafficking, but a moment of “toxicity and drug use” within his and Cassie’s “tumultuous, decade-long relationship.”
In a statement to USA TODAY, a CNN network spokesperson responded: “CNN never altered the video and did not destroy the original copy of the footage, which was retained by the source… CNN aired the story about the video several months before Combs was arrested.” Despite CNN’s denial, Combs’ attorneys remain steadfast. “Our written and oral communications with CNN’s counsel was clear — they destroyed the original video file they received from their source,” they stated in response.
This is not the first time Combs’ team has attempted to challenge the legitimacy of the video. Last November, his attorneys accused prosecutors of manipulating the footage to justify his incarceration. They also previously claimed that federal agents leaked the video to CNN — an assertion prosecutors have dismissed as “baseless.” A judge ultimately ruled in favor of the prosecution, rejecting Combs’ request for an evidentiary hearing.
Currently in custody after repeated denials of bond, Diddy is preparing for his May 5 trial on charges of racketeering and sex trafficking. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
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