Attorneys for Sean Diddy Combs have accused the US government of releasing a video showing Combs physically assaulting his ex-girlfriend Cassandra Ventura, known as Kasi.
A filing filed Wednesday by Combs' legal team cited the appeal as "a series of illegal government leaks, which led to damaging, highly biased media coverage prior to the trial, which can only contaminate the potential jury pool and deprive Mr. Combs of his right to a fair trial."
Federal prosecutors deny that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released footage of the attack on Ventura at the Intercontinental Hotel in Los Angeles, which was obtained by CNN and broadcast in May. The video shows Combs grabbing Ventura, throwing her to the floor, then punching and dragging her.
Soon after, Combs admitted that the video was authentic, saying that he was truly sorry for his behavior.
"I take full responsibility for my actions in that video. I was appalled when I did it, I am appalled now," he added in a statement.
It became public evidence against the rapper and businessman, who was then facing numerous sexual assault claims in cases dating back to the early 90s. Ventura filed her lawsuit in November 2023, which was settled the next day in a settlement.
Combs has since faced numerous additional allegations of sexual misconduct, culminating in his arrest in New York on three counts of trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation and racketeering. His request for bail was refused due to the risk of flight and possible influence on witnesses, and he was locked up in the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, the Guardian reports.
His lawyers specifically mention the video with Ventura in the new filing, stating, "The video was leaked to CNN with one sole purpose: to severely damage Sean Combs' reputation and ability to successfully defend himself against these charges. Instead of using the video as evidence at trial , along with other evidence that gives it context and meaning, agents have abused it in the most biased and damaging way."
In a footnote, federal prosecutors deny the allegation and claim that DHS "did not have possession of the video prior to its release by CNN."
Still, Combs' attorneys say it's "quite reasonable" to believe DHS released the tape anyway. They requested a hearing on the alleged leaks, claiming they had not been fully investigated.
They also allege that federal raids in March on Combs' properties in Miami and Los Angeles were "specifically designed to be public spectacles of brutality and were not primarily focused solely on obtaining potential evidence."
Earlier this week, Combs applied for bail for the third time, with conditions including house arrest and a $50 million bond. His lawyers disputed the claim about the risk of influencing witnesses.
"The government's arguments about the risk of interference are based on speculation, mostly unverified allegations about communications with witnesses in civil cases and communications initiated by alleged witnesses, not Mr. Combs," their statement said.
Combs is due back in court today for a hearing. His lawyers requested that the trial begin in the spring of 2025.
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