Cassie’s lawyer rejects Diddy’s assertions of video tampering as a ‘disingenuous argument’

The attorney, Douglas Wigdor, slammed the allegations, adding that the video “fairly and accurately” represents the assault incident.

He also expects that, regardless of the claims, the footage would be admitted into Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex crimes trial.

Before Diddy’s impending sex crimes trial, his defense team has put forth the assertion that CNN had eradicated the sole existing copy of a video purportedly capturing the rapper’s assault on his former girlfriend, Cassandra “Cassie” Ventura.

They also alleged that the viral clip that the news outlet later released was edited to portray the rapper in a bad light.

In response to these contentions, Cassie’s attorney, Douglas Wigdor, has now reacted, informing TMZ that these arguments from Diddy’s legal representatives are nothing but a “disingenuous argument.” They are taking steps to bar the video from being presented in his forthcoming trial.

Wigdor proceeded to express his belief that the defense team’s attempt to prevent the video from being used in the trial would not succeed, as he is of the opinion that the recording truthfully portrays the events of the assault.

“I am confident that the video fairly and accurately represents what happened, will be admitted into evidence,” he said, adding that Diddy “will be held accountable for his depravity.”

The claims from Diddy’s lawyers were made in a joint letter about evidence in his federal case, in which the rapper is facing charges of sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to engage in prostitution.

“CNN purchased the only known copy of the Hotel’s surveillance footage, uploaded that footage into a free editing software, altered the video and then destroyed the original footage, even though it knew about and repeatedly reported about the federal investigation,” read the letter, per TMZ.

Elsewhere in the letter, they accused the news outlet of “covering the time stamp and then changing the video sequence.”

The defense team also claimed that the video was sped up “to make it falsely appear that the actions in the video are taking place faster than they are.”

“As a result, the CNN videos do not fairly and accurately depict the events in question,” the letter further read.

Months earlier, Diddy’s lawyers also made a similar argument about the Cassie assault video being altered.

At the time, he alleged that federal prosecutors presented an edited version of a viral video to influence his bail hearing negatively.

According to the claim from the rapper, the altered footage exaggerated Diddy’s perceived threat, portraying him as more dangerous rather than framing the incident as a domestic dispute.

The music mogul’s attorneys also alleged that the prosecutors had the unedited version of the video but chose to alter it to present their “most powerful evidence of danger and obstruction.”

In the same documents containing the claims, Diddy’s lawyers also attempted to explain away some of the violent acts depicted in the video.

They said that the altercation was simply a “sad glimpse into a decade-long consensual relationship” and described it as just a “domestic dispute.”

Furthermore, they claimed that the incident did not align with the federal prosecutors’ claims of sex trafficking or forced sex.

The release of Cassie’s assault video caused a wave of backlash against Diddy, which prompted him to issue an apology for his actions in the clip.

In the since-deleted apology video, Diddy talked about hitting rock bottom at the time of his assault on Cassie, noting that he was “f-cked” up at the time.

The rapper said, “It’s so difficult to reflect on the darkest times in your life, but sometimes you got to do that. I was f-cked up. I mean, I hit rock bottom, but I make no excuses. My behavior [in] that video is inexcusable. I take full responsibility for my actions in that video. I’m disgusted. I was disgusted then when I did it, I’m disgusted now.”

He continued, “I went, and I sought out professional help. Had to go into therapy. Had to go into rehab. Had to ask God for his mercy and grace. I’m so sorry. But I’m committed to [being] a better man each and every day. And I’m not asking for forgiveness. I’m truly sorry.”

Ahead of his trial, Diddy is being held in detention at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York.

He has been at the federal facility since his arrest last September, with his multiple requests for bail all denied.

The rapper’s trial is slated for May, and if found guilty, he could face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

Amid his detention, federal prosecutors added a forced labor allegation to the previous charges, per USA Today.

They claimed that he “maintained control over certain employees of the Combs Business” and “forced” them to “work long hours with little sleep, through use of, among other things, physical force, psychological harm, financial harm, reputational harm, and/or threats of the same.”

However, the rapper, via his attorney, once again denied the accusation, just like he did for the earlier sex crimes charges.