For the time being, federal prosecutors cannot use the notebook found in Sean “Diddy” Combs' cell, which contains information about the disgraced hip-hop mogul and his alleged victims. It is said that one of his “things to do'' was to find “dirt'' on people. ” the judge ruled on Tuesday.
The disgraced music mogul, who was wearing a prison-issued tan shirt and pants, was attacked in his cell last month before a judge told the Manhattan U.S. Attorney's Office that 19 pages from the rapper's notebook were found in the rapper's notebook. won a small legal victory by ordering the photos to be deleted. .
U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian also ruled that prosecutors cannot use the material in a separate bail hearing for Combs, 55, on Friday.
Lawyers for Combs, who faces sex trafficking and extortion charges, argued that the U.S. Attorney's Office overstepped its authority when it seized materials from Combs in October. The raids were said to have taken place during a major search of the Metropolitan Detention Center.
One of Combs' attorneys, Mark Agnifilo, called the federal authorities' actions “outrageous” and argued that their actions violated attorney-client privilege during the hearing.
“This is a complete institutional failure,” Agnifilo said.
But prosecutor Mary Slavik said the government obtained the memo as part of the Justice Department's ongoing investigation into Combs' obstruction of justice charges and could lead to further charges against him. .
“The government received these materials through completely appropriate channels,” she said.
He said the notebook, labeled “Things to Do,” contained notes from Combs about paying potential witnesses and digging up dirt on them and the two alleged victims. This means that the attorney-client protection claim will be canceled.
Federal authorities said the notebook also contained unidentified “inspirational quotes.”
Subramanian said he is keeping a copy of the memo for now until prosecutors decide whether they can use it to build a case against the “All About the Benjamins” rapper.
The “I'll Be Missing You” singer was arrested in September and charged with racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation of prostitution charges. He pleaded not guilty.
Since then, he has been languishing in a hellish Brooklyn jail awaiting trial, despite repeated attempts by his lawyers to release him on bail. Combs also faces an avalanche of civil lawsuits filed in recent months.
Another hearing on his bail application is scheduled for Friday. The celebrity is asking to be released on $50 million bail, but prosecutors say he could tamper with witnesses if released.
with post wire
