In New York, legal representatives for Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs have raised serious concerns regarding the actions of prosecutors, claiming they have engaged in “outrageous government conduct” by utilizing evidence taken from Combs’ jail cell to argue for his continued detention before his trial set for May.
The legal team highlighted that materials seized during a search of Combs’ cell at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn were referenced in documents submitted by the government to a Manhattan federal court on Friday, presenting arguments for keeping the music executive in custody prior to his trial on May 5.
In a motion to Judge Arun Subramanian, who has already arranged a bail hearing for this Friday, Combs’ attorneys expressed that the situation is of great concern and requires immediate attention. They are demanding a prompt hearing to clarify who authorized the search of Combs’ cell, from which personal items and documents were confiscated.
Combs, aged 55, has remained in custody since his arrest in September. He faces serious charges alleging that he has coerced and abused women and minors for years, allegedly with the use of a network of associates and employees to assist him. The indictment accuses him of employing tactics such as blackmail, violence, and intimidation against victims, which includes claims of kidnapping and physical assaults.
He has pleaded not guilty to these allegations and is currently attempting to obtain release to house arrest through a proposed bail package amounting to $50 million.
In their filing last Friday, prosecutors alleged that Combs has been attempting to evade scrutiny of his communications while imprisoned. They claim he is orchestrating campaigns on social media to influence potential jurors and possibly leaking information that he believes could support his defense. Additionally, they state that he has reached out to witnesses via intermediaries.
The lawyers for Combs pointed out in their Monday correspondence that during the previous week’s bail argument, prosecutors admitted to possessing “possibly privileged materials,” which includes notes retrieved from Combs’ cell.
The defense team termed this conduct as “outrageous,” suggesting it represents a violation of their client’s substantive due process rights. They further accused the prosecutors of reviewing the privileged correspondence between Combs and his legal counsel concerning witnesses and strategies for his defense.
Prosecutors have chosen not to comment on the issues raised by Combs’ legal team.