Sean "Diddy" Combs is allegedly trying to blackmail victims and potential witnesses in a bid to influence public opinion from jail ahead of his upcoming sex trafficking trial, a court filing has claimed.
The music mogul, 55, is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, a federal jail in New York, after being charged with sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, transportation and engaging in prostitution - allegations which he denies. So far, his bail requests have been denied - but a new hearing is set to take place next week to assess his latest $50million (£40million) bail proposal.
However, in a new court filing on Friday, prosecutors urged the judge to reject the latest bail request. They wrote that a review of recorded jail calls made by Combs shows he has asked family members to reach out to potential victims and witnesses and has urged them to create "narratives" to influence the jury pool. They say he also has encouraged marketing strategies to sway public opinion.
Image:
Getty Images)"The defendant has shown repeatedly - even while in custody - that he will flagrantly and repeatedly flout rules in order to improperly impact the outcome of his case. The defendant has shown, in other words, that he cannot be trusted to abide by rules or conditions," prosecutors wrote in a submission that contained redactions.
Prosecutors wrote in the court filing that it could be inferred from his behaviour that Combs wants to blackmail victims and witnesses into silence or into providing testimony helpful to his defence. According to prosecutors, Combs allegedly began breaking rules almost as soon as he was detained in Brooklyn.
He has pleaded not guilty to charges that he coerced and abused women for years with the aid of a network of associates and employees, while silencing victims through blackmail and violence, including kidnapping, arson and physical beatings. Two judges have concluded he is a danger to the community and a risk to flee.
His lawyers recently made a third request for bail after the rejection of two previous attempts, including a $50million bail proposal. In the request, they cited changed circumstances, including new evidence, which they said made it sensible to release Combs so he can better prepare for his May 5 trial.
Image:
Getty Images for MTV)But prosecutors said defence lawyers created their latest bail proposal using some evidence prosecutors turned over to them and the new material was already known to defence lawyers when they made previous bail applications. In their submission to a judge, prosecutors said Combs' behaviour in jail shows he must remain locked up.
For instance, they said, Combs has enlisted family members to plan and carry out a social media campaign around his birthday "with the intention of influencing the potential jury in this criminal proceeding." He encouraged his children to post a video to their social media accounts showing them gathered to celebrate his birthday, they said.
Afterward, he monitored the analytics, including audience engagement, from the jail and "explicitly discussed with his family how to ensure that the video had his desired effect on potential jury members in this case," they said. The government also alleged Combs during other calls made clear his intention to anonymously publish information that he thought would help his defence against the charges.
"The defendant's efforts to obstruct the integrity of this proceeding also includes relentless efforts to contact potential witnesses, including victims of his abuse who could provide powerful testimony against him," prosecutors wrote. The Mirror has contacted Diddy's lawyers for comment.
Follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.
English (US) ·