Sean 'Diddy' Combs has been accused of attempting to contact potential witnesses and influence public opinion from prison, aiming to sway potential jurors in his upcoming sex trafficking trial. Prosecutors made this claim in a court filing urging a judge to deny his latest bail request.
The government's accusations were detailed in a Manhattan federal court filing opposing the music mogul's latest $50 million bail proposal. A bail hearing is set for this week. Prosecutors stated that a review of recorded jail calls made by Combs reveals he instructed family members to contact potential victims and witnesses, urging them to craft 'narratives' to influence the jury pool. He also allegedly encouraged marketing strategies to sway public opinion.
"The defendant has demonstrated repeatedly—even while in custody—that he will blatantly and repeatedly disregard rules to improperly influence the outcome of his case. The defendant has shown, in essence, that he cannot be trusted to adhere to rules or conditions," prosecutors wrote in a submission with redactions.
Prosecutors argued that Combs' behavior suggests he intends to coerce victims and witnesses into silence or to provide testimony favorable to his defense. They noted that Combs, 55, began violating rules almost immediately after his September arrest and detention at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn.
Combs has pleaded not guilty to charges alleging he coerced and abused women for years with the help of a network of associates and employees, silencing victims through blackmail and violence, including kidnapping, arson, and physical assaults. Two judges have deemed him a danger to the community and a flight risk.
His lawyers recently filed a third bail request after two previous attempts, including a $50 million proposal, were rejected. They cited changed circumstances, including new evidence, as reasons for releasing Combs to better prepare for his trial on May 5. However, prosecutors argued that the defense's latest bail proposal was based on evidence already known to them during previous applications.
In their submission to the judge, prosecutors asserted that Combs' behavior in jail indicates he must remain incarcerated. For example, they claimed Combs enlisted family members to orchestrate a social media campaign around his birthday, aiming to influence potential jurors in the criminal proceeding. He reportedly encouraged his children to post a video on their social media accounts celebrating his birthday, and later monitored the analytics from jail, discussing with his family how to ensure the video had the desired effect on potential jurors.
The government also alleged that Combs made clear his intention to anonymously publish information he believed would aid his defense during other calls. "The defendant's efforts to undermine the integrity of this proceeding also include relentless attempts to contact potential witnesses, including victims of his abuse who could provide powerful testimony against him," prosecutors wrote.
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