Legal Filing Claims Network Purchased, Edited, and Disposed of Key Evidence in Sean Combs Case

March 13, 2025 - New York City, USA - In a stunning development in the ongoing legal saga surrounding Sean “Diddy” Combs, a new court filing alleges that CNN obtained the sole original copy of a 2016 hotel surveillance video showing the music mogul allegedly assaulting his then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, only to alter it, broadcast an edited version, and subsequently destroy the unedited footage. The claims, made by Combs’ legal team in a federal case in New York City, have ignited controversy and raised questions about journalistic ethics and evidence integrity as Combs faces charges of sex trafficking and racketeering.

According to the filing submitted on March 13, 2025, CNN purchased the only known copy of the surveillance footage from the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles, where the incident occurred in March 2016. The document asserts that the network then uploaded the video into free editing software, modified it—allegedly by covering the timestamp, rearranging the sequence of events, and speeding up portions to exaggerate the violence—and aired the altered version in May 2024. Most shockingly, the filing contends that CNN destroyed the original footage, despite being aware of an ongoing federal investigation into Combs, rendering it unavailable for judicial scrutiny.

The video in question, which depicted Combs violently grabbing, shoving, dragging, and kicking Ventura in a hotel hallway, became a pivotal piece of evidence in public and legal discussions surrounding the rapper’s behavior. While Combs is not facing direct prosecution for the 2016 assault due to the expired statute of limitations, federal prosecutors have sought to use the footage to demonstrate a pattern of violent tendencies in his current case. However, Combs’ defense team argues that the alleged tampering and destruction by CNN make the video inadmissible, asserting that courts typically require raw, unaltered footage as evidence.

“CNN purchased the only known copy of the hotel’s surveillance footage, 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,” the filing states. The defense further alleges that the network’s actions were intended to sensationalize the story and damage Combs’ reputation irreparably.

Cassie Ventura’s legal team has pushed back fiercely against these claims. Her attorney dismissed the allegations as “baseless,” insisting that the video’s authenticity has been acknowledged by Combs himself, who issued a public apology in May 2024 after its initial release. “The footage speaks for itself, and any attempt to discredit it now is a desperate move,” the lawyer said, expressing confidence that the video will be admitted into evidence at trial.

The accusations against CNN come at a critical juncture in Combs’ legal battles, with his trial looming and his defense scrambling to exclude potentially damning evidence. Legal experts note that if the claims of alteration and destruction are substantiated, it could significantly undermine the prosecution’s case and spark broader scrutiny of media handling of sensitive material. However, CNN has yet to respond publicly to the allegations, leaving the public and legal observers awaiting the network’s official stance.

As the story unfolds, the controversy adds yet another layer of complexity to an already high-profile case, blending issues of celebrity, media responsibility, and judicial fairness into a narrative that continues to captivate and divide public opinion.