CNN has firmly denied accusations from Sean “Diddy” Combs’ legal team that the network altered and destroyed original surveillance footage depicting Combs assaulting his then-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, in a 2016 hotel incident. The footage, aired by CNN in May 2024, shows Combs physically assaulting Ventura in a Los Angeles hotel hallway.

In a recent court filing, Combs’ attorneys alleged that CNN purchased the sole copy of the hotel’s surveillance video, edited it using free software to misrepresent the events by obscuring the timestamp, altering the sequence, and increasing the playback speed, and subsequently destroyed the original footage.

Responding to these allegations, a CNN spokesperson stated, “CNN never altered the video and did not destroy the original copy of the footage which was retained by the source.”

The network also noted that their report on the footage aired several months before Combs’ arrest.

Douglas Wigdor, Ventura’s attorney, criticized Combs’ claims as a tactic to prevent the jury from viewing the incriminating video. He expressed confidence that the footage accurately depicts the incident and anticipates its admission in court to hold Combs accountable.

The surveillance video, recorded on March 5, 2016, and released by CNN in May 2024, shows Combs chasing Ventura down a hotel hallway, grabbing her by the neck, shoving her to the ground, kicking her, and dragging her across the floor.

Combs, 55, is currently detained at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center, facing multiple federal charges, including sex trafficking and racketeering. Authorities allege he operated a criminal enterprise through his businesses, using coercion and violence to exploit women sexually. His trial is scheduled to begin on May 5, 2025, where the contested surveillance footage is expected to play a pivotal role.

As the trial approaches, the court will determine the admissibility of the surveillance footage and assess the validity of the claims regarding its authenticity. The outcome may significantly impact the proceedings against Combs.