In a stunning development, federal prosecutors have revealed they possess two versions of the video showing Diddy allegedly beating his ex-girlfriend, Cassie, in a hotel hallway back in 2016. The revelation came during a pretrial hearing on Friday, where Diddy’s lawyers squared off with the prosecution over the authenticity and use of these videos.
Original Footage vs. Altered CNN Video
The judge presiding over the case inquired about the video evidence, and Assistant United States Attorneys confirmed that they had access to both the original security footage from the InterContinental Hotel and a version broadcast by CNN. The significance of this is heightened by the fact that Diddy’s legal team had previously claimed that CNN had altered the footage and destroyed the only known copy of the original video.
Diddy’s Legal Team Doubles Down on Claims of Video Manipulation
Diddy’s attorney, Marc Agnifilo, argued in court that CNN had received the footage from an unnamed source, after which the video was allegedly edited using free software. He claimed that CNN sped up the footage, rearranged its sequence, and removed the timestamps, making it deceptive and misleading. The defense team is expected to argue in the upcoming trial that the altered video should be excluded from evidence.
Judge Suggests Possible Solutions for Video Evidence
The judge, however, proposed a potential compromise, suggesting that the video could be slowed down or re-sequenced to ensure its authenticity and clarity. This suggestion indicates that both parties might come to an agreement on how the footage can be used effectively in the trial. Despite the legal wrangling over the CNN version, prosecutors have now revealed they also have the original unaltered footage, which could hold more weight in the case.
Diddy’s Alleged Violent Behavior and Additional Victims
Although Diddy is not facing prosecution for the alleged beating of Cassie due to the statute of limitations having expired for such charges, prosecutors are attempting to use the footage to establish a pattern of violent behavior, which could have significant implications for his ongoing federal criminal case. In a further blow to the rapper and music mogul, two new alleged victims have been added to the indictment. The judge has ordered the prosecution to disclose the identities of these new victims to Diddy’s legal team, further complicating the case.
