NEW YORK — Federal authorities have alleged that attorneys representing Sean “Diddy” Combs are attempting to take control of the music executive’s criminal proceedings by requesting that a judge reveal evidence prior to the trial, including the identities of his accusers.
The prosecutors filed documents late Wednesday, urging the judge to deny these requests, which they described as “blatantly improper,” particularly the push to disclose the identities of potential witnesses.
They argued it is inappropriate for the defense to seek the release of victim identities and other evidentiary details that could disadvantage the government’s case.
The defense has also called for a gag order to prevent the legal representatives of the accusers from making public statements. They contend that the government has leaked information to the media, putting the rapper’s chance for a fair trial at risk.
According to prosecutors, such requests represent “a thinly veiled attempt to limit the Government’s evidence at this early stage and to divert the criminal proceedings so the defendant can address civil lawsuits.” They insisted this maneuver should be rejected, especially given the potential danger it poses to witness safety.
The prosecution added that “the defendant is well aware that there is no legal basis for his attempt to utilize this criminal case as a shield against civil litigation.”
The 54-year-old Combs has been held in a federal facility in Brooklyn since his arrest on September 16 and is set to go on trial on May 5.
Previously, a judge refused to approve a bail request from Combs’s lawyers, citing concerns that he could obstruct justice or interfere with witness testimonies.
The rapper has denied all allegations that he coerced and abused women over several years, with claims of complicity from his associates and staff.
Prosecutors allege that Combs has been involved in a racketeering conspiracy since at least 2008, using his influence in the entertainment world to force women into sexual encounters with male sex workers, a practice dubbed “Freak Offs.”
Accusations state that Combs filmed some of these incidents and used the footage to intimidate victims, and that he also resorted to physical violence against women, employing various forms of assault.
In response to the claim that a video of Combs assaulting his ex-girlfriend Cassie—shot in March 2016—was leaked to CNN, prosecutors stated that these assertions from the defense were false. They suggested that the defense is attempting to downplay a damaging piece of evidence that shows Combs committing violence.
In May, Combs shared a video message in which he admitted “full responsibility” for his actions against Cassie, who is formally known as Casandra Ventura. She filed a lawsuit against him in November, accusing him of extensive sexual, physical, and emotional mistreatment, which was resolved the following day.
“I was disgusted then when I did it. I’m disgusted now,” Combs remarked in his video statement.
Normally, the press does not identify those who claim they have experienced sexual abuse unless they choose to come forward, as Cassie has.
In addition to the criminal charges, Combs faces civil suits from several individuals alleging sexual assault over the last 25 years, with claims of being drugged.
Combs’s attorneys have requested that the accusers and their legal representatives be barred from making public comments, arguing they have already disseminated numerous damaging statements aimed at tarnishing Combs’s reputation.
A multitude of lawsuits against Combs have been filed in federal court in Manhattan, each assigned to different judges, leading to inconsistent early rulings regarding the validity of the allegations.
Recently, a judge ruled that a Tennessee woman claiming that Combs raped her in 2004 at the age of 19 must either pursue her case without anonymity or drop it entirely, emphasizing the defendants’ right to investigate those alleging wrongdoing.
A request for comment from Combs’s legal counsel did not elicit an immediate response on Thursday.
