Lawyers for hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs defended their client's right to describe the federal sex trafficking case against him as “racist” in a court filing Monday. He is asking the court to grant him bail so he can return home from prison. While awaiting trial.
“He is entitled to a fair trial and has a constitutional right to speak on his behalf,” Combs' defense attorneys wrote in a letter to Judge Arun Subramanian. “The government's argument that children are not entitled to ask children to post birthday wishes on Instagram or to publicly express their opinion that this prosecution is racially motivated is simply In other words, it's an unconstitutional attempt to silence him.”
The case against Combs is being overseen by Damien Williams, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, who was appointed by the Biden-Harris administration and will step down on Dec. 13 ahead of his expected replacement in the incoming Trump administration. .
Diddy tries to post bail for third time after prosecutors say he threatened victim from behind bars
Sean “Diddy” Combs attends a ceremony honoring him as a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Hollywood Boulevard on May 2, 2008 in Hollywood, California. (Vince Bucci/Getty Images)
Prosecutors took issue with Combs' use of a banned app to communicate with the outside world while in prison. He used other inmates' cellphones to contact friends and family in order to exert influence, and even posted phone calls from his captivity to his Instagram account, which is now controlled by his sons. He is said to have released a video of himself saying happy birthday to them.
They allege he had a long history of obstruction, encouraged witnesses and subordinates to protect him, and abused both sexual partners and personal staff, according to court documents.
“Former employees have testified that they have seen the defendant threaten to kill them, throw things at them, punch them, punch them, shove them, and do the same to others.'' '' the prosecution argued. “This significant history of violence must be considered when looking at the defendant's obstruction behavior. Taken together, there is no question that the government has demonstrated by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant is dangerous.” do not have.”
Read Diddy's defense letter:
Combs and his supporters have played race cards before. When Homeland Security agents raided his homes in Miami and Los Angeles in March, his ex-boyfriend Misa Hilton posted a since-deleted Instagram post showing armed agents arresting her son. The post contained home surveillance video that showed the suspect's death, but no charges have been filed against him.
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Damien Williams, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, speaks to the media outside the Manhattan Federal Courthouse on July 16, 2024 in New York City. (Adam Gray/Getty Images)
“The overzealous and overtly militarized use of force against my son Justin and Christian is deplorable,” Hilton wrote. “If they were the sons of non-black celebrities, they probably wouldn't have been treated with the same aggression.”
Combs blamed the company for its messy break-up with alcohol giant Diageo, which took full ownership of Ciroc vodka and DeLeon tequila. racist It then claimed that Combs was selling these brands to “urban” consumers because he is black.
Read the prosecutor's letter of objection.
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Diageo dismissed his claims as “false and reckless” and ultimately dropped the case against the company in January. The two sides also severed all business ties.
The race card was brought up by his lawyers early in his federal criminal case, when he accused federal agents of leaking details of a classified investigation to reporters. Prosecutors countered with Combs' attorney: Mark Agnifilo told TMZ In a television interview, he said it was his opinion that Williams' office was working on “the erasure of successful black men.”
Sean Combs holds a bottle of Ciroc Vodka while attending the “Sean Combs 50th Birthday Party by Ciroc Vodka'' held in Los Angeles, California on December 14, 2019. (Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Sean Combs)
A spokeswoman for Mr. Combs did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday.
Williams had already planned to resign in January, but announced on Monday that he would step down in mid-December.
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President-elect Donald Trump has already nominated former Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Jay Clayton to replace Williams.
Combs' trial on sex trafficking and racketeering charges is scheduled to begin on May 5, 2025.
He is currently on his third attempt to be granted bail pending in court. Federal prosecutors are asking a judge to keep Combs in custody, saying he poses a threat to witnesses and victims if released temporarily.
They believe he is already trying to influence witnesses from behind bars and is contacting them through third parties.
On Friday, both appeared in court for Combs' third bail hearing, but the judge did not issue a ruling. He asked the government and Combs' lawyers to submit a “short letter” supporting their position by noon Monday. Combs' lawyers later complained that the government's 13-page letter was too long and rehashed old arguments. Their letter was eight pages long.
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Combs' human trafficking investigation began in November 2023 after his ex-girlfriend, Cassandra “Kathy” Ventura, filed a lawsuit alleging abuse and other wrongdoing. .
The case was settled the next day, and he denied the accusations, but earlier this year a video was released that appeared to support the violent claims in her lawsuit that he attacked her in a hotel hallway.
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“Mr. Combs became extremely intoxicated and punched Ms. Ventura in the face, striking her. black eyes' her lawyer argued.
New accusers have continued to come forward over the past year, and Texas attorney Tony Buzbee said in October that he is currently representing more than 100 people seeking to sue the rapper.
He is accused of distributing date rape drugs and victimizing adults and children at parties, including an unnamed “celebrity” accomplice.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or visit the following link . rain.org.
