Latest news on Sean “Diddy” Combs federal sex trafficking charge

The top line

Sean “Diddy” Combs’ lawyers have asked a judge to impose a gag order on all federal officials involved in his case on sex-trafficking and racketeering charges after claiming that news stories published by New York outlets demonstrate that the government has an “illicit partnership” with the media that will destroy Combs’ “ability to obtain a fair trial.” (Here is one full list of charges v. Combs.)

Sean “Diddy” Combs on May 14, 2018 in New York City.

WireImage

Chronology

October 25In a letter submitted to the court Friday, Combs’ attorneys specifically cite a New York Post article citing a “federal law enforcement source who is involved in the investigation” as evidence that the Department of Homeland Security is intentionally interfering with Combs’ right to due process (In October, Combs’ legal team argued that DHS ELAPSED an incriminating Combs CNN video, which the agency denied).

October 22Two of Combs’ seven children — Quincy Brown, Combs’ 33-year-old adopted son, and Chance Combs, his 18-year-old daughter with Sarah Chapman — have made a joint. post on Instagram calling the last month “devastating” for their family and defending their father against what they called “accusations, conspiracy theories and false narratives.”

October 15Combs returned to Instagram for the first time since his arrest in September with a post marking the second birthday of his youngest daughter, Love Sean Combs (he deleted every post on the social media account as CHARGES piled up against him, but he’s posted a total of three times since July, each time with photos of his kids).

October 11A U.S. Court of Appeals sent Combs’ latest bail request to a three-judge panel, but ruled that he will remain behind bars pending a decision.

October 10Combs appeared in court for the first time since his arrest, where he the date of the trial on May 5 was set for him to face federal charges of racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution.

October 9Combs’ team filed a memo arguing that the Department of Homeland Security ELAPSED a surveillance video that showed him abusing his ex-girlfriend, Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, although prosecutors denied the allegations and said they did not obtain that video until it was made public by CNN.

October 8Attorneys for Combs filed briefs asking will be allowed to await trial outside the Metropolitan Detention Center where he resides, arguing that the original decision to deny him bail was unfairly “distorted” by the attention on the case (the original judge, who has since been replaced, decided that Combs should stay). in prison so he can’t use his money and influence to interfere with the government’s case against him).

October 6Janice Small Combs, Sean Combs’ mother, said in a statement through her family’s attorney, she is “devastated and deeply saddened” by the allegations against her son, adding that those accusing him of wrongdoing are “seeking financial gain” and likened Combs to “many individuals” who have been “convicted unfairly because of their past”. actions or mistakes” — though she also said Combs “may not have been entirely truthful” when denying allegations of assault raised by his ex-girlfriend Ventura.

September 30Attorneys for Combs filed a notice asking the Second Circuit Court of Appeals for the Southern District of New York to overturn the decision to keep him in jail while he awaits trial, a choice that Judge Andrew Carter made. citing concerns Combs allegedly tampered with witnesses who had been contacted in the investigation against him (the claim was denied).

September 26A documentary was released for streaming on Tubi and featured an interview with Combs’ attorney, Marc Agnifilo, who addressed a leak video surveillance of Combs pushing and punching ex-girlfriend Ventura — in which he named her on indictment a takedown of a “successful black man” and said he doesn’t expect Combs to accept a plea bargain.

September 18 Combs’ attorneys cited “horrific” conditions at Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York in a bail application— which included a $50 million bond offer, GPS monitoring and strict visitor limits — which was denied by U.S. District Judge Andrew Carter, who said the conditions were not enough to ensure community safety.

September 17A federal courthouse in Manhattan unsealed charges against Combs for racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution, alleging that he “abused, threatened and coerced women and others around him to fulfill his sexual desires, protect his reputation and- and hide the conduct’.

September 16Combs was arrested in Manhattan after being indicted by a grand jury.

May 29Sources told CNN federal investigators were close to filing charges against Combs, and that plaintiffs who had filed individual civil suits against him were being interviewed as part of the case.

March 25Federal agents raided Combs’ homes in Florida and California in connection with a federal sex-trafficking investigation.

November 2023A $30 million lawsuit filed by Ventura kicked off a series of criminal complaints against Combs that included rape, sexual assault, sex trafficking and other claims (see all charges here).

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Cons

Combs has denied all allegations against him, with his attorneys describing some of the lawsuits and their allegations to Forbes as grabs for money“without grounds” or “sickening.” One statement in October, Combs’ attorneys said they had “full confidence in the facts, their legal defenses and the integrity of the judicial process. In court, the truth will prevail: that Mr. Combs has never assaulted anyone – adult or minor, male or female.”

What to watch

If he will be released on bail. Combs was in Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn since his arrest, and a third attempt by his lawyers to have him await his federal trial at home is currently under review. The initial bail offer included a $50 million bond, house arrest, GPS monitoring and strict restrictions on visitors, but a district judge rejected the request. His lawyers again asked for bail a few weeks later and were again denied by an appeals court judge.

Key background

Combs was arrested on federal charges in September and the following day, indictment against him was unsealed. The document alleges that Combs “abused, threatened and coerced women and others around him to fulfill his sexual desires, protect his reputation and conceal his conduct” and also accused him of using his empire business to engage in “sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery and obstruction of justice.” Prosecutors allege that Combs manipulated the women into engaging in “extended sexual acts with commercial sex workers” in what the mogul described as “Freak Offs” and that he and his associates drugged the women to keeps them “obedient and compliant”. Prosecutors accuse Combs and his associates of using bribes, threats and violence to cover up his alleged abuse, and said he would use the financial support he provided to coerce the women, making them feel they could not resist his demands “without risking her financial or job security” or submitting to abuse, Combs’ attorney Marc Agnifilo said then was “disappointed in the decision to pursue what we believe to be an unfair prosecution of Mr. Combs by the US Attorney’s office.”

Forbes rating

Sean Combs was once on the verge of becoming a billionaire thanks to his extensive music career, businesses that included the Sean John fashion and fragrance lines, and founded the Revolt TV network, and since-unrealized plans to become a cannabis mogul. Forbes estimated Combs’ personal wealth at $740 million in 2019 (he and his team later claimed he was a billionaire but provided no proof). Today, Forbes estimate conservatively he is worth 400 million dollars. Combs founded his own record label, Bad Boy Records, in 1993, which Rolling Stone called “one of the most influential hip-hop houses of all time”. The label signed major artists such as The Notorious BIG, Janelle Monáe and Cassie and released several of Combs’ own albums, including “Press Play” and “Last Train To Paris”. Combs sold a 50% stake in Bad Boy to Warner Music Group in a reported $30 million settlement in 2005. Combs has built a fortune through Bad Boy Records, several liquor brands, a fashion house and other ventures. He he sold his share in the DeLeón tequila brand for $200 million earlier this year. He was ranked 14th on the Forbes list the highest paid entertainers in 2022, earning around $90 million that year. One of the rapper’s scrapped homes is located in Holmby Hills, an affluent neighborhood where Combs bought a house for 40 million dollars ten years ago.