Sean “Diddy” Combs claims that the Department of Homeland Security leaked the video of him allegedly assaulting his ex Cassie in 2016 in hopes to “undermine” the rapper’s “right to a fair trial.”
Diddy, 54, made the allegation in a new motion for an evidentiary hearing as he awaits trial on charges of sex trafficking and racketeering. His legal team filed the motion in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York on Wednesday, October 9, Us Weekly can confirm.
Per the docs, Diddy’s attorneys claimed that the disgraced music mogul wishes to request an evidentiary hearing “to investigate alleged government misconduct, specifically concerning unlawful leaks that resulted in prejudicial pre-trial publicity. These leaks, allegedly orchestrated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), are argued to have damaged Mr. Combs’ right to a fair trial.”
The docs continued, “The defense contends that DHS agents have engaged in a seven-month campaign to undermine Mr. Combs’ right to a fair trial by leaking confidential grand jury materials and have asked for a hearing as to how a 2016 hotel videotape was leaked to CNN. The leaks have resulted in damaging and highly prejudicial media coverage, particularly sensationalizing the investigation and the involvement of Mr. Combs’ family.”
Diddy was arrested on Monday, September 16, and taken into custody in Manhattan after a grand jury indicted him following a string of sexual assault lawsuits and a federal investigation. The 14-page indictment, unsealed the following day, accuses Diddy of abusing, threatening and coercing women for years “to fulfill his sexual desires, protect his reputation and conceal his conduct.”
Diddy has denied all allegations against him and pleaded not guilty.
In May, CNN aired footage of Diddy allegedly assaulting his now-ex Cassie (Casandra Ventura) in a Los Angeles hotel. The video showed Diddy grabbing Cassie by her neck, shoving, dragging and kicking her repeatedly. It could now be used as key of prosecutors’ evidence.
Wagmeister, 34, further pointed out that the 2016 footage was already referenced in a civil suit against Diddy before her team “independently came across” it.
“[CNN] published it — for obvious reasons,” she said. “It was incredibly newsworthy, to say the least. Even though this came from a civil suit and not criminal proceedings, it’s all related. When you look at these civil suits from all these accusers, that can kind of provide a roadmap of what you may see in this trial.”
Hours after the outlet released the clip, Diddy apologized for his behavior without mentioning Cassie by name.
“It’s difficult to reflect on the darkest times in your life, sometimes you gotta do that,” he said in a May Instagram video. “I was f—ed up. I mean, I hit rock bottom but I make no excuses. My behavior on that video is inexcusable. I take full responsibility for my actions in that video. I’m disgusted.”
