Sean “Diddy” Combs’ legal team has formally requested that a federal judge exclude the explosive 2016 surveillance video showing him assaulting ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura from his upcoming sex trafficking and racketeering trial.
The video, first released by CNN in May 2024, depicts Combs violently attacking Ventura in a Los Angeles hotel hallway—a scene that sparked public outrage and intensified scrutiny of the allegations against him.
In court filings submitted on April 17, 2025, Combs’ attorneys argue that the footage is “inaccurate and unreliable,” alleging it was “altered, manipulated, sped up, and edited out of sequence” by CNN. They claim the original surveillance tape was destroyed and that the iPhone footage included as evidence also lacks authenticity.
The defence has asked for a hearing at which a forensic video analyst would testify about what they describe as technical distortions, including timestamp gaps, visual distortion, and edits that could mislead the jury about the true sequence of events.
CNN has denied any manipulation or destruction of the original video, stating the footage aired months before Combs’ arrest and that the original remains with the source. Prosecutors have previously cited the video as key evidence, arguing it demonstrates Combs’ danger to women and his alleged coercive behaviour.
Combs, who previously issued a public apology for his actions in the video and admitted his behaviour was “inexcusable,” is currently being held at MDC-Brooklyn. His trial is set to begin May 5, though his attorneys have requested a two-month delay to resolve ongoing evidentiary disputes. If convicted on all counts, Combs could face a life sentence.
A ruling on whether the Cassie Ventura assault video will be admitted as evidence is still pending, and the decision is expected to play a crucial role in the direction of the high-profile trial.