Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ lawyers claim prosecutors ‘edited’ the video of Cassie’s attack to push for his prison sentence

Sean “Diddy” Combs’ lawyers are redoubling their efforts to get him out of jail by accusing US attorneys of presenting an “altered” video of him attacking his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura to convince a judge that he must remain detained.

In new court filings obtained Thursday by USA TODAY, Combs’ attorneys filed multiple claims that cast doubt on the evidence the government presented in its arguments that Combs ran a sex trafficking enterprise and that he was in prison until his trial. prison should remain.

One of Combs’ attorneys, Alexandra Shapiro, alleged in her filing that evidence provided by prosecutors to the defense last week revealed that U.S. attorneys “mischaracterized and concealed critical facts” during hearings focused on whether the hip-hop mogul should be locked up. while he awaits trial.

One piece of evidence presented to a federal judge was footage of Combs physically assaulting Cassie at a Los Angeles hotel on March 5, 2016 — a clip that CNN made public earlier this year.

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Shapiro says the exhibit — a “key piece of evidence” for the government — showed an “altered video that omitted key scenes and presented events that were materially out of sequence.” It was “an edited, manipulated version of the video published by CNN,” she added.

When reached by USA TODAY, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York declined to comment.

Diddy’s lawyers hired a forensic video analyst to compare prosecutors’ videos of the attack on Cassie

Combs’ team entrusted a forensic video analyst, Conor McCourt, to produce a video comparing the exhibit the government included in its argument against Combs’ bail with two videos prosecutors provided for the defense on Nov. 13 . All the clips showed Combs attacking Cassie. at the Intercontinental Hotel.

McCourt’s analysis finds that “the video the government submitted to the Court omits footage that supports the defense’s account, alters the sequence of events in material respects, and does not accurately portray the events.”

As a result of these claims, the defense argues, the judge should schedule a new hearing on his bail request and “grant bail on the proposed conditions.”

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Combs and his attorneys have repeatedly questioned prosecutors’ claims that the 2016 video is evidence of Combs’ alleged sex trafficking and so-called “freak offs.” According to his lawyers, the images rather show a ‘domestic dispute’ and ‘a sad insight into a ten-year consensual relationship’.

A hearing on Combs’ bail proposal is scheduled for Friday.

Combs, who has pleaded not guilty to federal charges of sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution, will remain in jail until the start of his trial in May 2025, despite multiple attempts by his attorneys to have him released on of $50 million bail. He has also denied any wrongdoing alleged in dozens of civil lawsuits against him over the past year, involving claims of rape, sexual assault and human trafficking dating back decades.

This latest proposal, like the previous proposals, offers a $50 million bond secured by Combs’ stock and his mother’s homes in Florida, implementation of a 24/7 monitoring service by approved security personnel, no internet or telephone access for Combs outside meetings with legal advisors. Counsel, a pre-approved visitor list consisting of selected family members and surrendered passports of the rapper and his family members.

This latest offer also states that Combs is willing to participate in “full home detention” at his $48 million home in Miami or “an appropriate location in New York.” His family visits would be monitored by his assigned security, and Combs would be subject to “testing for a controlled substance” if necessary.

If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault, RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline offers free, confidential, 24/7 support to survivors and their loved ones in English and Spanish at: 800.656.HOPE (4673) and Hotline.RAINN.org en en Español RAINN.org/es.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Diddy’s lawyers claim US prosecutors edited video of Cassie’s attack