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Sean "Diddy" Combs' attorneys have accused CNN of altering and destroying the only copy of the now-infamous video of their client beating his ex-girlfriend Cassie at a hotel in 2016.
In a joint letter Combs' defense team and prosecutors submitted on Thursday, March 13, the cable news network bought the sole copy of the video from the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles. Once it was in their possession, CNN allegedly "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."
Combs' lawyers alleged CNN edited the footage by "covering the time stamp and then changing the video sequence. It also includes 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, the CNN videos do not fairly and accurately depict the events in question." For what it's worth, Combs is not being prosecuted for his actions in the video. However, his attorneys aim to exclude it from Combs' upcoming trial since prosecutors plan to use the video to show examples of Combs' alleged violent past.
Edited footage is rarely admitted into evidence so there's a possibility Combs' team will succeed. However, Cassie's attorney told TMZ he believes the motion will be denied. "I am confident that the video fairly and accurately represents what happened, will be admitted into evidence," Douglas Wigdor said before declaring that Combs "will be held accountable for his depravity."
Shortly after the letter was sent, CNN denied the allegations by Combs' team. A rep for the network told TMZ, "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 the network's denial, Combs' lawyers are standing by their claims.
"Our written and oral communications with CNN’s counsel were clear - they destroyed the original video file they received from their source," they said.
Combs is currently awaiting his trial in a jail cell in Brooklyn. He previously pleaded not guilty to charges of racketeering, sex trafficking and kidnapping. His trial is scheduled to begin May 5.