Sean “Diddy” Combs spent the last three weeks in prison speaking with his defense lawyers, preparing for his trial and receiving visits from his family, a source close to the music producer told CNN .
“His family is visiting. He talks to the lawyers. These are the only visits he has,” said the individual. “He needs to focus on the case. That’s all he does all day.”
The musician is currently in federal custody pending trial on charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. He pleaded not guilty.
The source added that Combs’ children visited him at the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center. The artist has four adult children and two teenage twin girls, all of whom visited him in prison. He also has a one-year-old daughter.
“He’s fine, but it’s difficult for him. He is close to his family and loves being a father,” said the source.
Combs was present at a hearing on Thursday (10), where the jailed hip-hop star blew kisses to his family in the courtroom. His trial has been scheduled for May next year.
His lawyers said they want to go to trial quickly as his request for bail has been denied twice.
In a letter to Judge Arun Subramanian, Combs’ lawyers had previously stated that they intended to request a trial date in April or May 2025.
Allegation of media leaks
Combs’ lawyers filed a motion Wednesday night accusing the government of leaking a video of the hip-hop mogul beating his ex-girlfriend and other evidence to the media, asking the judge to ban filming of the trial.
The motion filed in the Southern District of New York references hotel security camera video from 2016, published exclusively by CNN which shows Combs dragging and kicking his then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura.
Combs initially denied the abuse allegations against Ventura, which were included in a November 2023 lawsuit she filed before the video was made public. After the video was released, Combs publicly apologized.
Combs’ lawyers accused the government of leaking the video to the CNN . They provided no evidence for their claims.
In a letter to Judge Damian Williams on Wednesday night, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York wrote that “the government was not in possession of the video prior to its publication by CNN ” and that there is “no factual basis” for Combs’ claim that authorities leaked the video to the CNN or violated grand jury secrecy rules.
THE CNN I didn’t want to comment.
The motion filed by Combs’ attorneys also alleges that authorities alerted the media to the March searches of his homes in Los Angeles and Miami.
The motion alleges that the leaks “influence the jury and deprive Mr. Combs of his right to a fair trial.”
Combs’ lawyers asked the judge to impose a gag order prohibiting the government from providing information about evidence in the case to the media.
They claim the leaks came from agents of the Department of Homeland Security, whose Homeland Security Investigations division conducted the search, and not from prosecutors in the case.
A spokesperson for the New York Department of Homeland Security declined to comment.
What happens next?
Combs’ court appearance Thursday was his third since his arrest and his first before Subramanian, a Biden-nominated jurist who has been on the court since last year. He was assigned the case last week after Judge Andrew Carter recused himself.
Carter transferred the case because of a long-standing personal and professional relationship he has with one of the new attorneys, according to a court spokesperson.
Carter, who was appointed by Obama, was initially assigned to the case. He denied Combs bail saying he had concerns about witness tampering and physical violence after prosecutors alleged Combs was in contact with witnesses who had received grand jury subpoenas. Combs has since bolstered his legal team by adding new attorneys and has appealed the ruling.
Prosecutors began turning over evidence to Combs’ legal team, including Combs’ cellphone, which was seized in March during a search, and began copying 40 devices and five iCloud reports to provide to the defense.
Combs’ lawyers said they want the judge to order the government to immediately produce materials seized more than six months ago.
“The timely production of these materials is critical to Mr. Combs’ ability to prepare for his defense,” they wrote to the judge.
Case of Sean Combs, P. Diddy, will become a Netflix documentary
This content was originally published in Arrested, “Diddy” Combs only receives visits from his family and lawyer, says a source on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
I’m Robert Neff, a professional writer and editor. I specialize in the entertainment section, providing up-to-date coverage on the latest developments in film, television and music. My work has been featured on World Stock Market and other prominent publications.
