Sean Combs' Lawyers Accuse Government of Leaking Cassie Video to 'ruin' His Reputation Before Trial.
Sean "Diddy" Combs' lawyers are claiming that the government has leaked troubling footage of his altercation with his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura in an effort to damage his reputation during his ongoing legal issues.
Combs, 54, was taken into custody on Monday, September 16, at 8:25 p.m., facing charges of sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation for the purpose of prostitution. He is currently being held at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center as he awaits trial. Five months prior to his arrest, hotel surveillance footage aired by CNN depicted Combs in a violent encounter with Cassie.
The 2016 video showed him grabbing Ventura by the neck, throwing her to the ground, kicking her, and dragging her down the hallway. In recent court filings, Combs' legal team contends that the government intentionally leaked the video to harm his image. His attorneys have urged the Southern District of New York to look into alleged government misconduct, particularly regarding unlawful leaks that have led to damaging pre-trial publicity.
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They claim that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is responsible for the leaks that "have harmed Mr. Combs' right to a fair trial," as stated in the filing. DHS is accused of conducting a seven-month smear campaign against Combs to "undermine" his "right to a fair trial" by "disclosing confidential grand jury information."
"The leaks have led to damaging and highly prejudicial media coverage, especially sensationalizing the investigation and the involvement of Mr. Combs’ family," his attorneys noted. In addition to the hearing, they are requesting access to emails, documents, and records that the government, including the DHS, possesses regarding the leaks, as well as a gag order to prevent government personnel from sharing any case-related material with the media, according to a statement from the memorandum of law supporting the motion for an evidentiary hearing.
They finally requested that the evidence supposedly leaked by the government be kept under wraps, claiming that this action breaches the Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure "or any other law, rule, or regulation." In their statement, Combs' lawyers argued that "the government's scheme" has hindered Combs from receiving a fair trial, pointing to alleged misleading statements made by DHS to the media.
They referenced the March 2024 raids conducted by Homeland Security Investigations agents at Combs' residences in Los Angeles and Miami, during which his sons, Christian Combs, 26, and Justin Combs, 30, were reportedly handcuffed and "manhandled by federal agents wielding assault rifles."
They highlighted the 2016 footage, referring to it as "the most blatant example" of the supposed leak. Combs' legal team made it clear that they do not think the U.S. Attorney's Office was responsible for any leaks. "Instead, we argue that the misleading media statements and the grand jury leaks" mentioned in the statement "were orchestrated and carried out by DHS. As more information comes to light, the Court will see that the defense has consistently reached out to the prosecutors, asserting that their agents were leaking information to the media," they stated, noting that these leaks reportedly continued even after Combs was taken into custody.
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"The abuse is clear," his attorneys continued, but "without a hearing," it would remain “unknown how far or where the abuse reached.”
After the hotel footage from 2016 came to light, Diddy posted an apology video on Instagram, which has since been removed. In it, he expressed, "I was in a really bad place. I hit rock bottom, and I don’t make excuses for my actions. What I did in that video is unacceptable, and I fully own up to it."
Ventura also shared her thoughts on Instagram, saying, "Domestic Violence is a critical issue. It changed me into someone I never imagined I would be. Thanks to a lot of hard work, I’m in a better place now, but I will always be on the path to recovery. This journey of healing is ongoing, and the support I receive means the world to me." A status meeting regarding the requests from Combs' attorneys is set for Thursday, October 10.
Related: Sean 'Diddy' Combs Legal Timeline
