The infamous 2016 surveillance video showing Sean “Diddy” Combs assaulting his ex-girlfriend was not illegally leaked to the media by prosecutors, government lawyers argue in a new filing that accuses the rapper's lawyers of trying to “suppress a damning piece”.
In a motion filed late Wednesday, federal prosecutors responded to the allegations leaked by Combs' attorneys earlier this month. They say it was impossible to leak the video of Combs punching Cassie Venture to CNN because they didn't even have it at the time it was published in May.
The government says Didi's lawyers know this, but are using the leaked charges as a way to prevent jurors from seeing Combs “brutally physically assault a victim” — a critical piece of evidence.
“Without any factual basis, the leak motion seeks to suppress highly evidentiary evidence … by alleging that it was subpoena material leaked by government agents,” prosecutors wrote. “However, as the defendant is fully aware, the video was not in the government's possession at the time of CNN's publication, and the government never, at any point, received the video through the grand jury process.”
Combs, also known as Puff Daddy and P. Diddy, was once one of the most powerful men in the music industry. But last month, he was indicted by federal prosecutors on extortion and sex-trafficking charges for an extensive criminal enterprise intended to satisfy his need for “sexual gratification.” If convicted of all charges, he faces a possible life sentence.
Wednesday's new filing came three weeks after Combs' attorneys called for an investigation into the alleged leaks, claiming they “resulted in prejudicial, highly damaging pretrial publicity that can only taint the jury pool and deprive Mr. Combs of the right of a fair trial.”
Diddy's lawyers specifically pointed to Cassie's video, which showed Combs hitting his then-girlfriend in a Los Angeles hotel hallway in 2016 and made headlines when it was released by CNN in May.
“The videotape was leaked to CNN for one reason only: to mortally wound Sean Combs' reputation and prospects of successfully defending himself against these allegations,” Agnifilo wrote. “Instead of using the videotape as evidence at trial, along with other evidence that gives it context and meaning, the agents misused it in the most damaging and prejudicial way possible.”
Wednesday's filing by prosecutors also addressed Diddy's recent request that the government release the names of his alleged sexual abuse victims. In a move earlier this month, his lawyers argue that he cannot fairly defend himself without knowing their identities.
In response, the government argued that such disclosures “pose serious risks” to the safety of victims, citing Didi's “significant history of violence and obstruction” that resulted in him being denied bail last month.
“Due to the defendant's history, the government has serious concerns about the safety of the victims and potential witness tampering if a list of victims' names is provided to the defendant,” prosecutors wrote.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/pro/diddy-prosecutors-deny-leaking-cassie-video/
