Sean “Diddy” Combs’ attorneys claim CNN “altered” the 2016 surveillance video showing him beating his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura “and then destroyed the original footage.”
On Thursday, Page Six obtained a joint letter filed by Combs’ defense team and prosecutors regarding what evidence should be addressed at the pretrial conference in his upcoming sex trafficking case.
According to the defense, CNN bought the video, which was taken in a hallway at the now-closed InterContinental Hotel in Century City, Calif.
The outlet published the video in May 2024, noting at the time that it was recorded on March 5, 2016.
The defense alleged that “all CNN video footage was substantially altered in significant respects,” including “covering the time stamp and then changing the video sequence” as well as “speeding up the video to make it falsely appear that the actions in the video are taking place faster than they are.”
“As a result,” Combs’ attorneys argued, “the CNN videos do not fairly and accurately depict the events in question.”
According to the defense, “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, even though it knew about and repeatedly reported about the federal investigation.”
Ventura’s attorney, Douglas Wigdor, told Page Six in response to the allegations, “It is not surprising that Combs would make a disingenuous argument to exclude the disturbing video from being shown to the jury in the upcoming trial.”
Wigdor added, “I am confident that the video fairly and accurately represents what happened, will be admitted into evidence, and that Combs will be held accountable for his depravity.”
Reps for CNN did not immediately respond to Page Six’s request for comment.
Meanwhile, a “disgusted” Combs previously apologized for his actions, saying in an Instagram video that although he was “f–ked up,” his behavior in the footage was “inexcusable.”
The video appeared to corroborate some of the allegations Ventura, 38, made against the rapper-turned-mogul, 55, in a November 2023 lawsuit, which claimed physical abuse.
In the video, Ventura — who performs under the mononym Cassie — was seen exiting a hotel room with several bags, walking quickly to the elevators. She was wearing a black hoodie over her head, jeans and tennis shoes.
Shortly after, Combs was seen in nothing but a bath towel and socks, running toward Ventura. After reaching her, he grabbed her by the back of the neck and threw her to the floor. He then turned to kick her.
After retrieving Ventura’s bags from the floor near the elevators, Combs was shown turning around and kicking her again. He then dragged her by her hoodie toward a room before walking away.
Ventura then slowly stood up, gathered her items and moved to pick up a phone on the wall near the elevators. Combs returned and shoved her before sitting in a chair in the hallway.
He was then seen grabbing an object off a table near the chair and forcefully throwing it toward Ventura.
Ventura, who reached an undisclosed settlement with Combs shortly after she filed her suit, described the altercation in the complaint.
According to the filing, while the two were inside the hotel room, Combs became “extremely intoxicated and punched Ms. Ventura in the face, giving her a black eye.”
After he fell asleep, she attempted to leave the room, but he woke up and “followed her into the hallway of the hotel while yelling at her,” the suit claimed, going on to allege, “He grabbed at her and then took glass vases in the hallway and threw them at her, causing glass to crash around them as she ran to the elevator to escape.”
According to the complaint, the singer eventually managed to get in the elevator, leave the hotel and call a cab, which took her to her apartment.
“Upon realizing that her running away would cause Mr. Combs to be even angrier with her, and completely stuck in his vicious cycle of abuse, Ms. Ventura returned to the hotel with the intention of apologizing for running away from her abuser,” the filing claimed.
“When she returned, hotel security staff urged her to get back into a cab and go to her apartment, suggesting that they had seen the security footage showing Mr. Combs beating Ms. Ventura and throwing glass at her in the hotel hallway.”
Ventura’s suit alleged that Combs had paid the InterContinental $50,000 for the security footage from the incident.
Two days later, the former couple — who dated on and off from 2007 to 2018 — were photographed together at the Los Angeles premiere of “The Perfect Match.”
Combs was arrested in September 2024 on charges of sex trafficking, transportation to engage in prostitution and racketeering conspiracy, to which he pleaded not guilty.
His trial has been set for May 5; if convicted, he faces a minimum of 15 years in prison and a maximum of life.
Combs is also up against a barrage of lawsuits alleging similar behavior; he continues to maintain his innocence.
If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or text START to 88788.
