Attorneys for Sean “Diddy” Combs filed a motion accusing the government of leaking a video of him beating his former girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, to the media. The motion was filed in the Southern District of New York and referenced a 2016 hotel surveillance video published exclusively by CNN. Combs’ lawyers accused the government of leaking the video to CNN, although they did not provide evidence to support their claims. CNN declined to comment on the situation. Combs is currently in federal custody awaiting trial on charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty to these charges.
In addition to the criminal charges Combs is facing, he is also dealing with multiple civil lawsuits accusing him of sexual misconduct and other illegal activity. The motion filed by Combs’ attorneys alleges that authorities alerted the media about searches conducted at his homes in Los Angeles and Miami in March. The attorneys claim that these leaks could potentially taint the jury pool and prevent Combs from receiving a fair trial. They have asked the judge to impose a gag order prohibiting the government from providing information about evidence in the case to the media, arguing that the leaks make it difficult for Combs to receive a fair trial.
Combs’ attorneys believe that the leaks came from agents of the Department of Homeland Security, specifically from its Homeland Security Investigations division, which conducted the search, rather than from prosecutors on the case. Spokespersons for HSI New York and the US attorney’s office for the Southern District of New York declined to comment on the situation. Prosecutors informed Combs’ attorneys that they did not obtain the hotel surveillance video through the grand jury process and that DHS agents did not possess the video until after CNN aired it. Initially, Combs denied allegations of abusing Ventura which were included in a November 2023 lawsuit she filed before the video was made public. However, following the release of the video, Combs issued an apology.
The motion filed by Combs’ attorneys is aimed at addressing the leaks of evidence and information to the media, which they believe undermine his right to a fair trial. By asking for a gag order to prevent further leaks from the government, they hope to ensure that Combs can receive a fair trial. The attorneys have accused the government of leaking the video of Combs beating Ventura and other evidence related to the case to paint a negative image of Combs in the media and affect the outcome of the trial. The motion also alleges that the leaks regarding the searches conducted at Combs’ homes in Los Angeles and Miami were intended to impact the jury pool and prevent Combs from receiving a fair trial.
As the legal proceedings surrounding Combs’ criminal and civil cases continue, his attorneys are working to protect his right to a fair trial by addressing the leaks of evidence to the media. By filing a motion requesting a gag order to prevent further leaks and allegations of unfair treatment in the trial process, they hope to ensure that Combs can present his case in a unbiased and just legal environment. The allegations of misconduct and abuse against Combs are serious, and it is crucial that the legal proceedings are conducted in a manner that upholds the principles of justice and fairness for all parties involved.
