Los Angeles, California – Facing serious legal trouble in the form of sex trafficking charges, music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs took a bold step by accusing the mainstream media of spreading fake news to defend himself. Combs made the accusation ahead of his upcoming trial, where he could potentially face life in prison if found guilty.
In a surprising move, Combs alleged that CNN had altered hotel security footage that showed him involved in a physical altercation with his former girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, back in 2016. According to a joint letter from Combs’ defense team and the U.S. Attorney’s office, the footage provided by CNN was significantly altered, including changes to the video sequence and speeding up the video to distort the events captured on tape.
Combs, known for founding Bad Boy Records, has been embroiled in legal battles since his arrest in September 2024 on charges of racketeering, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution. Additional claims of forced labor have been added to the indictment, leading to a pre-trial hearing scheduled for March 14.
Despite Combs’ accusations against CNN, the news outlet denied altering the video and clarified that they did not destroy the original copy of the footage. Combs has maintained his innocence and entered a not guilty plea, but has been denied bail multiple times and is currently held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.
Ventura, referred to as “Victim-1” in the indictment, has alleged that the video footage shows her trying to escape a forced group sex session orchestrated by Combs. The 2016 incident captured on tape also led to Ventura filing a lawsuit against Combs for abuse and rape, which was settled quickly with a substantial payout.
As the legal proceedings continue, Combs and his legal team are challenging the footage’s admissibility in court, claiming that it does not accurately represent the events that took place. The case has become increasingly complex, with Combs’ defense pushing back against the prosecution’s narrative and accusing the government of racial bias in their prosecution of the case.
Combs’ legal troubles extend beyond this particular case, with multiple other allegations of assault, abuse, and rape filed against him. Despite the mounting legal challenges, Combs remains defiant in his denial of any wrongdoing and continues to fight the allegations against him.