5:40 PM PT — Diddy‘s legal team tells TMZ … “Our written and oral communications with CNN’s counsel were clear – they destroyed the original video file they received from their source.”

Cassie Ventura‘s lawyer is calling BS on Diddy‘s claim that the video of him beating her up in a hotel hallway is edited … and, her attorney says he’s sure the footage will be admitted into evidence.

Douglas Wigdor tells TMZ … it’s not surprising Diddy “would make a disingenuous argument to exclude the disturbing video from being shown to the jury in the upcoming trial.”

Cassie’s attorney adds … “I am confident that the video fairly and accurately represents what happened, will be admitted into evidence” … and Diddy “will be held accountable for his depravity.”

TMZ broke the story … Diddy’s defense claims CNN destroyed the only known copy of the 2016 Cassie beating video and aired altered footage before destroying the original version.

Diddy’s camp claims CNN purchased the video, uploaded it into a free editing software, altered the footage and then destroyed the original.

As for the alleged altering … Diddy’s defense claims CNN covered the time stamp, changed the video sequence and sped up the video to make it falsely appear like the actions in the video happened faster than in reality.

Diddy’s team is filing legal docs to exclude the video from his upcoming trial, but Cassie’s camp thinks his motion will be denied.

Teddi Mellencamp is opening up about her slow realization that she was suffering from brain tumors … and she says she’s had some of the saddest and darkest days since her diagnosis.

The reality TV star dished on the “wild” lead-up to her brain surgery on her “Two Ts in a Pod” podcast, explaining she initially dismissed her symptoms as migraines or menopause.

Teddi says she was at a horse show when she had a terrible migraine, took some of her friend’s migraine meds and instantly felt worse … to the point where she forgot where she was.

As we reported … Teddi had 4 tumors removed from her brain earlier this month, but doctors recently discovered more tumors … including two in her lungs.

John Feinstein — a longtime sports reporter and author — has died at the age of 69 … according to his employer, the Washington Post.

John’s brother — Robert — confirmed his passing to the outlet on Thursday. His cause of death was not revealed.

Feinstein started his career at the Post in 1977 … working as a night police reporter before joining the sports beat. He was the author of 48 books, 23 of which became a New York Times best seller. One of his most well-known pieces was “A Season on the Brink,” which followed the 1985-86 Indiana University men’s basketball team led by Bob Knight.

He had a column published Thursday morning by the Post … which was about Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo.

Many media members, along with readers of his work, have taken to social media to comment on his passing.

He was 69.