Federal prosecutors are expressing serious concerns for the safety of victims and witnesses linked to the case against Sean “Diddy” Combs, who is facing sex crimes accusations. They are urging a judge to deny a defense request to identify these individuals and are refuting claims that the government was behind the leak of a video showing Combs assaulting his ex, Casandra “Cassie” Ventura. Combs’ lawyers have demanded an evidentiary hearing on leaks and have accused federal investigators of improperly releasing the video. However, the Justice Department has denied having a copy of the video before it was obtained and published by CNN and dismissed the allegations as baseless.
When federal investigators attempted to locate the video after learning about it, they discovered it had disappeared from the hotel’s server. It is alleged that Combs tried to bribe hotel security in relation to the video. Prosecutors also noted that Combs’ defense expressed concern about the video being leaked to the public, suggesting that his own employees could have been responsible for its release. A gag order request, which would restrict victims from speaking out on the case, was also opposed by the government. Homeland Security Investigations agents raided Combs’ properties in Miami and Los Angeles before his arrest in mid-September. Federal prosecutors are pushing back against Combs’ motions and asking the court to deny his requests for remedies.
Combs is facing federal charges of sex trafficking, prostitution, and racketeering. He has numerous civil lawsuits alleging sex abuse and other wrongdoing, with more accusers expected to come forward with litigation. In a separate case from Louisiana, he is accused of defrauding a design firm and could face additional business-related lawsuits. The overlap between the civil and criminal cases has led federal prosecutors to caution against identifying Combs’ accusers publicly, citing concerns for their safety, potential tampering, and intimidation. His criminal trial is set for May 5, following an investigation that began in November 2023 after Ventura sued Combs for physical and sexual abuse.
Ventura’s lawsuit, which Combs vehemently denied, alleged that he punched her in the face and gave her a black eye while intoxicated at the Intercontinental Hotel in 2016. Despite settling out of court a day after the lawsuit was filed, the leaked video portrayed Combs brutally assaulting Ventura in the hotel hallway, confirming her claims. Following the leak, Combs issued a tearful video apology and vowed to seek help. He is currently being held without bail in a federal jail in Brooklyn. Numerous new accusers have come forward in the past year, with Texas attorney Tony Buzbee representing over 100 individuals seeking to sue the rapper. These accusers claim Combs drugged them and victimized adults and children at parties, sometimes involving other unnamed celebrity accomplices. For those who have been sexually assaulted, the National Sexual Assault Hotline is available at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or via rainn.org.
