Amid his upcoming trial in May, Diddy has now alleged that the video footage showing him assaulting ex-girlfriend Cassie that was obtained by CNN “was substantially altered in significant respects” by the news network.
According to USA Today, a joint letter from Diddy’s defense team and prosecutors was sent to a judge, where it alleges that “a forensic video analysis of the CNN footage” showed it was “substantially altered in significant respects.”
The letter goes on to claim that CNN covered the time stamp and changed the video sequence, as well as sped up the footage to “make it falsely appear that the actions in the video are taking place faster than they are,” Deadline reported.
“Finally, the defense has confirmed that 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 letter alleges, according to Deadline.
CNN denied the claims in the letter, with a spokesperson telling the New York Post, “CNN never altered the video and did not destroy the original copy of the footage, which was retained by the source. CNN aired the story about the video several months before Combs was arrested.”
Last year, CNN shared the video that showed Diddy assaulting Cassie Ventura at a hotel in March 2016. Shortly after the video surfaced, Diddy issued an apology through Instagram.
The Post reported that the letter was filed in Diddy’s criminal sex-trafficking case in Manhattan federal court Thursday, and noted that the disgraced Bad Boy Records founder was due to appear in court Friday for a hearing in the case.
He remains behind bars as he awaits trial, and has been denied bail multiple times.