The Downfall Of Diddy | The Case Against Sean 'Puffy P Diddy' Combs Prosecutors Deny Leaking Sean "Diddy" Combs Assault Video, Seek to Block Evidentiary Hearing
Nov 1, 2024
10:37
Federal prosecutors have refuted claims by Sean "Diddy" Combs’ legal team that a video showing him allegedly assaulting a former girlfriend was leaked to CNN by government agents. The recent filing, submitted overnight, aims to clarify that prosecutors were never in possession of the video and urges the court to reject Combs' motion for an evidentiary hearing.
“The defendant argues baselessly that a video depicting the defendant's assault of a victim at the Intercontinental Hotel in Los Angeles on March 5, 2016 was provided to a media outlet by Government agents,” prosecutors wrote in the filing. Combs' legal team has suggested that the video, released publicly in May 2024, may have been leaked by federal prosecutors. However, prosecutors maintained that the video was not part of their evidence at the time CNN published it and was never obtained through grand jury proceedings.
“Without any factual basis, the Leak Motion seeks to suppress highly probative evidence—a video of Combs brutally physically assaulting a victim in March 2016 that was published by a media outlet in May 2024—by claiming that it was grand jury material leaked by Government agents to CNN,” the filing continued. “But, as the defendant is fully aware, the video was not in the Government's possession at the time of CNN's publication, and the Government has never, at any point, obtained the video through grand jury process.”
Combs, who appeared in federal court earlier in October, has sought to argue that alleged leaks could hinder his ability to receive a fair trial. Defense attorneys have called for an evidentiary hearing to address their claims, which prosecutors have dismissed as an attempt to avoid dealing with "damning" evidence against him.
In addition to urging the court to deny Combs’ motion for a hearing, prosecutors are also opposing his request for the early disclosure of his accusers' identities. “The defendant's request for victim names should be denied on the basis that it is tantamount to a request for early disclosure of the Government's witness list, something he is clearly not entitled to at this extremely early stage of the proceedings,” the prosecutors stated. They emphasized that early disclosure would pose risks to witness safety and could open the door to potential obstruction.
Prosecutors have accused Combs of leveraging the criminal case to defend against civil litigation brought by anonymous accusers, describing his tactics as an attempt to “co-opt this criminal proceeding to defend against civil litigation.” A federal judge recently denied one plaintiff’s request to proceed under a pseudonym in a related civil case, underscoring a “presumption of openness in judicial proceedings.”
As Combs’ defense continues to press for transparency and evidentiary hearings, prosecutors have countered with firm denials of any misconduct. The case now awaits further review, as legal teams on both sides prepare for the next stage in the proceedings.
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“The defendant argues baselessly that a video depicting the defendant's assault of a victim at the Intercontinental Hotel in Los Angeles on March 5, 2016 was provided to a media outlet by Government agents,” prosecutors wrote in the filing. Combs' legal team has suggested that the video, released publicly in May 2024, may have been leaked by federal prosecutors. However, prosecutors maintained that the video was not part of their evidence at the time CNN published it and was never obtained through grand jury proceedings.
“Without any factual basis, the Leak Motion seeks to suppress highly probative evidence—a video of Combs brutally physically assaulting a victim in March 2016 that was published by a media outlet in May 2024—by claiming that it was grand jury material leaked by Government agents to CNN,” the filing continued. “But, as the defendant is fully aware, the video was not in the Government's possession at the time of CNN's publication, and the Government has never, at any point, obtained the video through grand jury process.”
Combs, who appeared in federal court earlier in October, has sought to argue that alleged leaks could hinder his ability to receive a fair trial. Defense attorneys have called for an evidentiary hearing to address their claims, which prosecutors have dismissed as an attempt to avoid dealing with "damning" evidence against him.
In addition to urging the court to deny Combs’ motion for a hearing, prosecutors are also opposing his request for the early disclosure of his accusers' identities. “The defendant's request for victim names should be denied on the basis that it is tantamount to a request for early disclosure of the Government's witness list, something he is clearly not entitled to at this extremely early stage of the proceedings,” the prosecutors stated. They emphasized that early disclosure would pose risks to witness safety and could open the door to potential obstruction.
Prosecutors have accused Combs of leveraging the criminal case to defend against civil litigation brought by anonymous accusers, describing his tactics as an attempt to “co-opt this criminal proceeding to defend against civil litigation.” A federal judge recently denied one plaintiff’s request to proceed under a pseudonym in a related civil case, underscoring a “presumption of openness in judicial proceedings.”
As Combs’ defense continues to press for transparency and evidentiary hearings, prosecutors have countered with firm denials of any misconduct. The case now awaits further review, as legal teams on both sides prepare for the next stage in the proceedings.
Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj
Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Trial of Karen Read, The Murder Of Maddie Soto, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, The Menendez Brothers: Quest For Justice, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, The Murder Of Sandra Birchmore, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com