Sean 'Diddy' Combs, from behind bars, has attempted to extend his reach to potential witnesses and manipulate public opinion, a strategy prosecutors contend is aimed at influencing the jury pool for his impending sex trafficking trial. In a court filing late Friday, which urges a judge to deny his latest bail request amounting to $50 million, prosecutors laid out their accusations in a Manhattan federal court. A bail hearing is set for the coming week.
Prosecutors revealed that a scrutiny of Combs' recorded jailhouse conversations unveiled his instructions to family members to engage with potential victims and witnesses, urging them to craft "narratives" designed to sway the jury's perceptions. Moreover, they claimed he has advocated for marketing tactics aimed at altering public sentiment.
"The defendant has demonstrated repeatedly, even in custody, a blatant disregard for rules, seeking improperly to influence the outcome of his case," prosecutors wrote in a redacted submission. "In essence, he has proven unreliable and unable to abide by any rules or conditions."
Prosecutors inferred from his conduct that Combs intends to coerce victims and witnesses into silence or to testify favorably for his defense through intimidation. Lawyers representing Combs did not promptly respond to requests for comment.
Almost immediately upon his detention at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn following his September arrest, prosecutors allege that the 55-year-old music mogul began breaking rules.
He has steadfastly maintained his innocence against charges of coercing and abusing women for years with the aid of a network of associates and employees, while silencing victims through blackmail and acts of violence, including kidnapping, arson, and physical assault. Two judges have already deemed him a danger to the community and a flight risk.
His legal representatives recently filed a third bail application, following the denial of two prior attempts, one of which involved a proposal for a $50 million bond. In their latest submission, they invoked a shift in circumstances, highlighting newfound evidence that they contended necessitated Combs' release to enable him to adequately prepare for his upcoming trial scheduled on May 5.
However, the prosecution countered that the defense team's most recent bail proposal was crafted using evidence already provided by the prosecution, asserting that the defense was already privy to this new material during their previous bail requests. In their submission to the presiding judge, the prosecution painted a picture of Combs' conduct in prison as indicative of his need to remain incarcerated.
They illustrated this point by describing how Combs orchestrated a social media campaign around his birthday, involving family members, "with the clear intent of swaying the potential jury in this criminal proceeding." Allegedly, he urged his children to post a video on their social media platforms, depicting them gathered to celebrate his birthday. From his jail cell, he closely monitored the analytics, including audience engagement, and "explicitly strategized with his family on ensuring the video achieved its desired impact on potential jury members in this case," they continued.
Furthermore, the government accused Combs of making other calls in which he expressed his intention to anonymously disseminate information that he believed would bolster his defense against the charges. "The defendant's relentless efforts to undermine the integrity of this proceeding also encompass his persistent attempts to reach out to potential witnesses, including victims of his alleged abuses who could deliver compelling testimony against him," prosecutors emphasized in their submission.
