Diddy’s lawyers claim viral video of him, Cassie, shown to judge was edited

Lawyers for Sean “Diddy” Combs argue that a 2016 video of him physically assaulting his then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura is an edited version of surveillance footage.

In court papers filed Thursday ahead of Combs’ bail hearing on Friday, the disgraced tycoon’s defense argued that the government had a more complete version of the video from the Intercontinental Hotel but provided the judge with an “edited, edited version of the video released by CNN.” . “

They claim the government provided the court with “edited” footage to make Combs, 54, appear more dangerous in an attempt to revoke his bail as he remains behind bars awaiting a May trial on sex trafficking charges.

Friday will be Combs’ third attempt to obtain bonds. Judges had previously decided he was a flight risk and a danger to the public, including his alleged victims and possible witnesses.

Combs’ lawyers said Thursday that an analysis by forensic video analyst Conor McCourt explains that “the video the government submitted to the court does not contain footage that supports the defense case, changes the sequence of events in significant respects, and does not accurately depict events.”

His team asked to play a 20-minute video of McCourt’s analysis during Friday’s bail hearing. They also said McCourt could testify Friday if the court wants to hear him.

Prosecutors say the 2016 video shows Ventura trying to escape one of Combs’ “freaks” and sex trafficking, while his defense claims the footage captures a “sad look at a decade-long consensual relationship” between Combs and Ventura .

What are Diddy’s charges?

Combs was arrested in New York in September and charged with the following charges:

• One count of racketeering conspiracy, which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.
• One count of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison and a mandatory minimum penalty of 15 years in prison.
• One count of transportation for the purpose of prostitution, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

What were Cassie’s accusations against Diddy?

Ventura and Combs split after 11 years of dating in 2018. Ventura filed a lawsuit against him in November 2023, describing the relationship as “a cycle of abuse, violence and sex trafficking.”

She alleged that Combs subjected her to physical and emotional abuse, forced her to have sex with male sex workers while he filmed them, raped her, threatened her and led her into an “ostentatious, fast-paced, drug-fueled lifestyle.”

Combs and Ventura settled the lawsuit the day after it was filed, which Combs’ representatives said was not an admission of guilt. Since then, more than 25 people have filed lawsuits against Combs, accusing him of sex crimes.

Tony Buzbee, a Houston lawyer representing 120 of Combs’ alleged victims, said earlier this week that new claims would be coming in “weekly.”

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