Didi’s Attorneys Alleged CNN’s Video Was “Substantially Altered” by Footage from Hotel Assortment Featuring Cassie Ventura

Sean Diddy Combs Legal Updates

The attorneys representing Sean Diddy Combs approved CNN to release video recordings related to the allegations against Cassie Ventura.

Over a year ago, Ventura, along with Widdie, filed a lawsuit against the “Bad Boy” founder for physical assault and rape. The case was permitted to proceed the following day, despite Combs vehemently denying the claims.

Months later, CNN obtained video surveillance footage showing Diddy dragging, hitting, and assaulting Ventura at a hotel in Los Angeles, which lends credibility to the accusations against him. Diddy later issued an apology for his “unforgivable” behavior seen in the video, which Ventura’s legal team has labeled as “insincere.”

Charges and Defense Allegations

In September of last year, Diddy was arrested and charged with multiple offenses, including sexual trafficking and racketeering. Since then, he has been detained in a federal prison in his hometown, awaiting a trial set to begin on May 5. His legal team continues to deny all allegations against him.

Today (March 14), during a preliminary hearing, a joint letter was submitted to Judge Arun Subramanian from both Diddy’s defense team and the U.S. Attorney’s office, asserting that the video footage had been tampered with.

“The defense has confirmed, through the analysis of the judicial video CNN provided to this court, that all CNN videos have been significantly altered,” the letter stated (via Deadline).

“This includes tampering with time stamps and altering the video sequence. Additionally, the footage was accelerated, misleadingly making the actions appear to occur more quickly than they did. Consequently, the CNN video does not accurately depict the events in question,” it added.

Response from CNN and Legal Developments

The letter further stated that the defense “confirmed” that CNN acquired the sole copy of the hotel surveillance video, then “uploaded this footage into free editing software, altered the video, and subsequently destroyed the original material, fully aware of a federal investigation.”

The outlet later shared a statement with TMZ, firmly denying Combs’ assertions. “CNN did not alter the video or destroy the original copy of the recorded material, which remains preserved by the source,” the outlet’s spokesperson stated on Thursday. “CNN reported on the video weeks before Combs’ arrest.”

Subsequently, Diddy issued a statement to Daily Mail yesterday (March 13), asserting that their “written and verbal communications with CNN indicated clearly that they destroyed the original video file received from their source.”

Ventura’s attorney, Douglas Vigdor, commented, saying it was not surprising that Diddy would make a dishonest argument to try to keep alarming video evidence from being presented to the jury in the upcoming trial.

“I am confident that the video, which accurately reflects what took place, will be admitted as evidence, and that Combs will be held accountable for any misconduct,” he added.

Meanwhile, one of Combs’s attorneys recently withdrew from the upcoming criminal case related to sexual offenses, stating: “Under no circumstances can I continue to effectively serve as counsel for Sean Combs, in accordance with ABA standards for criminal justice.”

Additionally, a woman who previously accused Combs and Jay-Z of sexual abuse in 2000, when she was just 13 years old, has voluntarily dismissed her lawsuit. Combs’ attorneys maintain that no settlement was reached between the parties.