Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ claims that agents leaked Cassie’s video are ‘baseless’, prosecutors say

American lawyers responded to the claims in court Sean “Diddy” Combs‘ lawyers that government agents leaked the informationincluding Combs footage physically assaulted his ex-girlfriend Cassie Venturato information publications.

In a filing filed in federal court in Manhattan Wednesday night, obtained by USA TODAY Thursday, prosecutors said Combs’ lawyers did not provide adequate evidence that any information was leaked to the federal grand jury investigating his case, adding, that Combs and his team know the video came from somewhere else.

The linked video was from a hotel surveillance camera in 2016 Posted by CNN in May, showing Combs kicking, punching and dragging Cassie near hotel elevators.

“Defendant falsely accuses (Department of Homeland Security) agents — who do not have the authority to issue a grand jury decision — of secretly obtaining Intercontinental Video without the knowledge of prosecutors,” the statement said.

Additionally, the government says it was “unable to obtain any video of the attack” and that investigators had no footage of the hotel attack until CNN released the footage.

Prosecutors also called his demand to name accusers a “thinly veiled” attempt to hijack the government’s case and help him publicly defend himself against more than two dozen men and women who are filing civil lawsuits over his alleged sex crimes.

“This improper request must be denied in its entirety, particularly where there are serious and ongoing concerns about victim and witness safety, interference and intimidation,” prosecutors wrote.

However, Combs’ efforts to expose his accusers got a boost on wednesdaywhen U.S. District Judge Mary Kay Wiskokil in Manhattan said the woman who sued Combs for alleged rape in 2004 could not remain anonymous. Vyskotsil cited Combs’ interest in investigating the credibility of the woman and the public interest in an open trial.

Diddy’s lawyers say government agents are obstructing his right to a fair trial

Combs’ team alleges that since March, the government has “strategically released confidential materials and information to the grand jury, including the 2016 Intercontinental video, to bias the public and potential jurors against Mr. Combs.”

In a statement filed Wednesday, prosecutors said the defense “groundlessly” claimed that government agents were the source of the material published by the media. The attorneys wrote, “To suggest that law enforcement agencies independently obtained Intercontinental Video under a grand jury subpoena they had no authority to issue beggars belief.”

In filings filed Oct. 9, the defense asked the judge for relief “in light of what the defense contends were a series of illegal government leaks that have resulted in damaging, highly prejudicial publicity at a pretrial hearing that can only tarnish jury and deprive Mr. .Grebeni of it the right to a fair trial.”

His lawyers, Mark Agnifilo and Teni Geragos, said the hearing should be held to investigate alleged government wrongdoing and to require government agencies involved in the case to release messages and records related to the alleged “leaks” to the media.

Combs’ team’s request for an evidentiary hearing to consider alleged government wrongdoing is still pending.

They also asked the judge to issue an order barring federal employees from disclosing the evidence to the media, as well as “withholding any evidence leaked by government officials.”

However, October 25 Judge Arun Subramanian objected to the imposition of a gag order. Instead, he wrote, both sides are expected to abide by existing laws that prohibit attorneys, investigators and government agents from divulging grand jury proceedings and releasing classified information that could impede a fair trial.

What are the complaints against Sean “Diddy” Combs?

Prosecutors in the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York say that “in approximately November 2023,” they began working with the Homeland Security Division on human trafficking and “began an investigation of Combs and others for violations of federal criminal law.”

That same month, Cassie was charged with rape, ill-treatment and sex-trafficking in a civil suit against the music mogul. Combs and Cassie settled her civil suit every other day. Combs’ attorneys revealed in a statement that she “received a substantial eight-figure settlement.”

Hip-hop superstar was arrested at a Manhattan hotel on September 16 brought to court charges of sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation for the purpose of engaging in prostitution the next day. Investigators say that the 54-year-old carefully planned using his finances and status in the entertainment industry to “fulfill his sexual desires” in a “persistent and widely known” pattern of abuse.

He was imprisoned in A special housing unit at the Brooklyn Detention Centerr has since pleaded not guilty to all federal criminal charges and denied the wrongdoing alleged in filing civil lawsuits against him for the last year.

All attempts by Combs to have him released from jail before his May 5 court date have been denied. His lawyers are asking the appeals court to overturn the a The decision to reject his request dated September 18 to be released from prison on conditions that include a $50 million bond.

Credit: Jonathan Stempel/Reuters

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline offers free, confidential 24-hour support for victims and their loved ones in English and Spanish at 800.656.HOPE (4673) and Hotline.RAINN.org and en Español RAINN.org/es.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Prosecutors criticize Diddy’s team’s “baseless” claims about Cassie’s video leak