In a dramatic twist, new documents suggest CNN destroyed crucial footage in Diddy’s case.
- The 2016 video allegedly showed Diddy assaulting Cassie at a Los Angeles hotel.
- Diddy’s defense claims the video was edited and altered before destruction.
- Authorities plan to block the video from being used in Diddy’s upcoming trial.
- CNN and the Southern District of New York have not commented on the accusations.
The situation intensifies as allegations surface that CNN intentionally destroyed significant evidence in the case against Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs. According to court documents, CNN allegedly destroyed the only known copy of a video capturing a 2016 incident where Diddy purportedly assaulted Cassie Ventura in an L.A. hotel hallway.
Diddy’s defense lawyers, along with prosecutors, have filed a letter stating that CNN purchased the hotel’s surveillance footage. This footage was claimed to be the sole existing copy. The defense argues that CNN not only uploaded this footage to a free editing software but also altered it by removing timestamps and editing sequences, making actions appear faster than they actually were.
In a tweet shared in May 2024 by CNN Breaking News, the footage allegedly showed Diddy grabbing, dragging, and kicking Cassie. However, the defense insists these edited clips do not accurately represent the true nature of events, calling into question the integrity of the footage.
With the L.A. InterContinental Hotel, the location of the incident, now closed, no alternative copies of the footage appear to be available. Because of this, Diddy’s legal team plans to seek a court ruling to exclude the video from being used in his upcoming trial, arguing that its edited nature renders it unreliable.
Despite these developments, Diddy isn’t facing charges for the alleged assault, as the statute of limitations for that act has expired. However, prosecutors aim to use the footage as evidence of an alleged pattern of violent behaviour.
The legal community notes that courts rarely accept edited video evidence, with judges typically requiring raw footage. This presents a high chance that the video may not be allowed in court. Meanwhile, requests for comments from CNN and the Southern District of New York have gone unanswered.
The situation leaves the future of this controversial video uncertain, with legal battles likely to continue.
