Federal prosecutors have ‘serious and continuing concerns’ about the safety of victims and witnesses linked to their case against Sean “Diddy” Combsthe hip-hop mogul turned entertainment billionaire, whom they accuse of sex crimes and are asking a judge to reject a defense request to identify them.

They also reject Combs’ defense claims team that the government was behind the leak of a brutal video showing the star assaulting his ex, Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, in the hallway of a Los Angeles hotel.

Lawyers for the 54-year-old Bad Boy Records founder requested an evidentiary hearing on leaks in the case and claimed the damning video, for which Combs apologized, was improperly disclosed by federal investigators during of a flight from the grand jury.

ACCUSER DIDDY SAYS SHE WOKED UP IN THE STREET WITH RAPE DRUGS IN HER SYSTEM AFTER MET MOGUL BEHIND THE SCENES

Sean Combs broke his silence in an Instagram video in response to a viral video of him allegedly beating his then-girlfriend Casandra “Cassie” Ventura in hotel footage from 2016, when he wore only a towel and socks. (Sean CombsInstagram)

The Justice Department denied it even had a copy of the video before CNN obtained and published it in May and said Combs’ filings were an attempt to suppress “damning” video evidence during his trial.

“The defendant baselessly accuses ‘DHS’ agents – who have no authority to initiate grand jury proceedings – of secretly obtaining the Intercontinental video without the knowledge of the prosecutors leading the investigation, and then leaked it to CNN,” prosecutors wrote. “No evidentiary hearing is necessary to dismiss these claims as unbelievable.”

This image, provided by the accuser, shows her, a friend and two other women after she said they were invited backstage at a Diddy concert in New York on April 22, 2011. (Obtained by Fox News Digital)

According to federal investigators, they wanted to find the video after learning about it but discovered that it had “disappeared from the hotel server.”

What they discovered, it appears, was an attempt by Combs to bribe hotel security.

Interestingly, according to prosecutors, on the day the video was made public, Combs’ defense wrote to them expressing “concern that someone (neither any of you nor the lead officers on the case) provided this footage to CNN.

Read the Ministry of Justice deposit:

The government said it only became aware of the video after the leak and was investigating how it was disseminated — hinting that Combs’ own employees may have made it public.

“The defendant refuses to acknowledge that several people other than government agents – including some of his own employees – may have had access to the intercontinental video,” prosecutors wrote.

The government also opposes a defense request to impose a silence that would prevent victims from speaking out about the case.

Agents from Homeland Security Investigations searched his homes in Miami and Los Angeles in March. His arrest took place in mid-September. The DOJ also asked a judge to deny Combs’ gag requests.

Watch video of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ 2016 assault on Cassie:

Combs faces federal charges of sex trafficking, prostitution and racketeering.

Federal prosecutors argued that he was simply “not entitled to the remedies he seeks” and asked the court to deny his attorneys’ motions.

Separately, he faces more than a dozen civil lawsuits alleging sexual abuse and other wrongdoing, and dozens of other accusers are expected to file their own lawsuits.

In another case in Louisiana, he is also accused of scam a design company who built stage displays for him, and the plaintiff’s legal team in that case said further prosecution related to the cases was likely.

Sean “Diddy” Combs claimed the government was responsible for leaking 2016 surveillance video of an alleged violent incident with his ex-girlfriend, Casandra “Cassie” Ventura. The government said it only became aware of the video after the leak and was investigating how it was disseminated — hinting that Combs’ own employees may have made it public. (Getty Images)

WATCH FOX NATION: WHAT DIDDY DID?

Because of the crossover between the civil and criminal cases, federal prosecutors told the judge that Combs’ request to have his Jane Doe accusers publicly identified could put them in danger if granted.

“There are serious ongoing concerns regarding victim and witness safety, tampering and intimidation,” prosecutors wrote.

Combs’ criminal trial is scheduled for May 5.

The federal government opened its investigation in November 2023, around the time Ventura sued Combs for physical and sexual abuse.

DIDDY AND AN UNNAMED CELEBRITY ACCUSED OF SEXUAL ASSAULT AT AWARDS SHOW, TREATING VICTIM AS A “PARTY FAVOR”

Sean “Diddy” Combs roamed the Bayfront Park Amphitheater for Pitbull’s New Year’s Eve festivities. (Getty Images)

Combs vehemently denied the allegations of Ventura and all other accusers. SO the video was leaked – showing the nearly naked billionaire brutally assaulting her in the hallway of the Intercontinental Hotel in Los Angeles.

The video appears to support at least one claim from Ventura’s lawsuit: Combs punched her in the face at the hotel in 2016.

“Mr. Combs became extremely intoxicated and punched Ms. Ventura in the face, causing her a black eye“, said his lawyers.

He was drunk, according to the lawsuit, and when he passed out, she tried to sneak away. But he allegedly woke up and started yelling at her again, followed her into the hallway and threw her to the ground.

Hip-hop artist Sean Combs performs on “MTV 2 Large” on New Year’s Eve at the MTV studios in Times Square, December 31, 1999. (Photo by Scott Gries/ImageDirect)

He delivered a tearful video apology and said he would seek help. He is now being held without bail in a federal prison in Brooklyn.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

Combs and Ventura settled out of court a day after she sued him, but his legal struggles snowballed from there.

Over the past year, many new accusers have come forward, and Texas attorney Tony Buzbee said in October that he now represents more than 100 people seeking to sue the rapper.

He was accused of distributing date rape drugs and victimizing adults and children at parties, some of which allegedly involved unnamed “celebrity” accomplices.

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.