Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs and his legal team are alleging serious misconduct by the federal government in the handling of his ongoing sex trafficking and racketeering case.
On Wednesday, October 9, Diddy’s attorneys filed a motion seeking an evidentiary hearing to address what they describe as strategic and unlawful leaks of evidence to the media, alongside false statements made by federal agents.
In the motion reported by USA Today, Diddy’s lawyers presented bold claims that the leaks were orchestrated by the Department of Homeland Security, which had previously executed raids on his properties earlier this year. They argue that the most damaging example of this misconduct involves the leak of a video showing Diddy allegedly assaulting his ex-girlfriend Cassie in a hotel corridor back in 2016.
Diddy’s attorneys assert that the leaked video to CNN was a deliberate attempt to harm the mogul’s reputation and his ability to mount a successful defense against the allegations he faces. They are pushing for a hearing to investigate whether Homeland Security was responsible for the leaks and whether the U.S. Attorney’s Office played a role in the matter.
If it is proven that a government official leaked the Cassie footage, it may not be permissible as evidence during the trial, along with other materials. The motion also calls for a prohibition on any further information leaks by government attorneys and agents involved in the case.
In a related development, the motion demands that all charges against Diddy be dismissed if the alleged misconduct is substantiated. Although the trial date has not yet been confirmed, Diddy’s legal team indicated in a separate filing that they plan to request a trial date in April or May 2025.