Sean 'Diddy' Combs Court Hearing Updates: Judge Hears About Jail Cell Notes

Sean "Diddy" Combs is in a New York court on Tuesday after his lawyers accused prosecutors of unlawfully seizing items out of his jail cell to try and keep him behind bars before his sex trafficking trial in May.

In this courtroom sketch, Sean "Diddy" Combs, right, in shackles, gestures to his mother, seated in the audience far left, who is blowing kisses to him following his hearing in federal court in New York... AP Photo

Unshackled and dressed in a tan inmate jumpsuit, Combs, 55, hugged his legal team in court Tuesday ahead of his 3 p.m. hearing, according to Law & Crime.

No cameras are allowed in the courtroom in this case.

The hearing pertains to what his lawyer Marc Agnifilo claims was an unlawful search and seizure of items from his jail cell.

"This is a matter of grave concern that, most respectfully, must be addressed immediately," Combs' lawyer Marc Agnifilo wrote Monday in a court filing to Judge Arun Subramanian.

Agnifilo requested an "immediate hearing" so prosecutors can explain who authorized the search of Combs' cell, where personal effects and paperwork were seized.

Combs is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center Brooklyn as he awaits trial after he was arrested on charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution.

Federal enforcement officers stand outside the Metropolitan Detention Center, where Sean “Diddy” Combs is incarcerated, during an interagency operation on October 28 in the Brooklyn Borough of New York. AP Photo

Monday's letter to the judge states that prosecutors acknowledged they possess "possibly privileged materials, such as the notes, recovered from the defendant's cell" during bail arguments last week.

"These notes reflect actual conversations with his attorneys concerning aspects of his trial preparation and his efforts to be released on bail. The notes refer to defense counsel by name, include discussion of defense experts and witnesses, discuss cross-examination and credibility of witnesses, and overall defense strategy."

"Mr. Combs' handwritten notes covering legal strategy are now in the hands of the trial prosecutors, who hope to take advantage of the breach they committed to better prepare for the May 2025 trial, bring new charges, and argue for Mr. Combs' detention."

Agnifilo also asked the judge that the disgraced mogul be unshackled in court on Tuesday, as well as all future hearings.

Agnifilo said having Combs in shackles raises "paramount concern" that "juror bias" could be created.

Sean 'Diddy' Combs attends Sean 'Diddy' Combs Fulfills $1 Million Pledge To Howard University At Howard Homecoming – Yardfest at Howard University on October 20, 2023 in Washington, DC. The prosecution for Diddy's case accused... Getty Images/Shareif Ziyadat

"Given the press attention on the pretrial proceedings in this case, there is a substantial risk that potential jurors will learn about the shackling through the media and develop such a bias," he wrote.

Combs was not shackled in court on Tuesday.

Newsweek has contacted Agnifilo for comment.

Combs has been denied bail on two different occasions. He has another hearing scheduled for Friday for a third attempt at bail.

This is a developing story. More information will be added as it becomes available.

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