Sean “Diddy” Combs’ defense team has accused CNN of altering and destroying the only known copy of surveillance footage that allegedly shows the music mogul assaulting Cassie Ventura, according to newly revealed court documents.

The allegations were first reported Thursday by TMZ, detailing a joint letter filed by Diddy’s attorneys and prosecutors that raises concerns about the handling of key evidence.

The defense claims CNN purchased the 2016 surveillance footage from the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles, where the alleged assault took place, and then manipulated the video before destroying the original version.

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“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 states.

According to new documents filed by Diddy’s lawyers claim CNN destroyed the only known copy of the 2016 video in which Diddy is seen beating Cassie in the hallway of an L.A. hotel.

“CNN purchased the only known copy of the Hotel’s surveillance footage, uploaded that footage into… pic.twitter.com/lq7lRXLfGm

— Kevin Dalton (@TheKevinDalton) March 13, 2025

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Diddy’s defense team plans to file a motion to prevent the video from being used in his upcoming trial, scheduled for May 2024.

While Diddy is not facing charges for the alleged assault against Ventura, prosecutors intended to use the footage to establish a pattern of violent behavior.

The defense alleges that CNN tampered with the footage by covering the time stamp, altering the sequence of events, and speeding up the video to create a misleading portrayal of what took place.

“It also includes speeding up the video to make it falsely appear that the actions in the video are taking place faster than they are,” the letter states.

“As a result, the CNN videos do not fairly and accurately depict the events in question.”

The InterContinental Hotel, where the incident allegedly occurred, has since shut down at that location.

With the original surveillance footage no longer available, the judge in the case is expected to require unaltered video evidence before allowing it to be presented in court.

According to TMZ, the latest revelations could lead to the Ventura video being excluded from the trial, a move that would significantly impact the prosecution’s ability to use the footage as supporting evidence.

HOLY CRAP! Diddy’s lawyers allege CNN ‘altered’ the Cassie assault video ‘and then destroyed the original footage’

What’s going on?! pic.twitter.com/MpHn7Cq3qn

— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) March 13, 2025

Diddy publicly admitted to the assault and issued an apology in May 2024, but his legal team is now challenging the authenticity of the footage, raising serious questions about how CNN obtained and handled the material.

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