Sean 'Diddy' Combs has requested a judge to prevent potential witnesses from publicly discussing the allegations against him.
The 54-year-old rapper, who was arrested in September on charges of sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation for prostitution, is also facing several civil lawsuits. His legal team filed a motion on Sunday (03.11. 24) asking the court to expedite the process of responding to the request to limit statements made outside of court, specifically citing one potential witness.
According to TMZ, a man named Courtney Burgess has given multiple interviews recently, including speaking to them with his lawyer, Ariel Mitchell, on Thursday (31.10. 24). The 'I'll Be Missing You' hitmaker claimed his statements have been false and defamatory.
Ariel told the publication that Courtney had been summoned to testify because he possesses or has seen scandalous videos of the disgraced music mogul and his celebrity friends. However, Combs' lawyers specifically mentioned information in articles from another outlet that incorrectly stated the rapper's so-called 'Freak Offs' involved "men" and "parties".
Image:
Getty Images)According to the legal documents, the government has been investigating the rapper for nearly a year and knows the alleged Freak Offs didn't involve men, minors, or parties. The lawyers argued that by not treating such claims as an "extortion scam", online conspiracies are being further fuelled, making it increasingly difficult for their client to receive a fair trial.
Combs has staunchly refuted all allegations of misconduct following his arrest under a federal indictment in September. Currently detained without bail, he maintains his innocence after entering a plea of not guilty. Just weeks ago, amid the filing of six fresh civil lawsuits – four involving male plaintiffs and one claim from an individual who was just 16 at the time of being hosted at one of Combs' 1998 parties – he reassured his supporters that "the truth will prevail."
The musician’s legal representatives were direct in their statement, declaring: "The press conference and 1-800 number that preceded today’s barrage of filings were clear attempts to garner publicity. " They added, "Mr Combs and his legal team have full confidence in the facts, their legal defenses, and the integrity of the judicial process."
Finally, they firmly stated, "In court, the truth will prevail: that Mr Combs has never sexually assaulted anyone — adult or minor, man or woman."
The Mirror have reached out to the music mogul's reps for comment.
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