Prosecutors claim that Sean “Diddy” Combs has attempted to contact prospective witnesses and shape public opinion from jail in an effort to sway potential jurors for his upcoming sex trafficking trial. These allegations were detailed in a court filing late Friday as the government urged a judge to deny Combs’ latest bail request.
The filing, submitted in Manhattan federal court, opposes Combs’ third attempt at securing bail, which includes a $50 million proposal. Prosecutors argued that the music mogul’s actions behind bars demonstrate his unwillingness to follow rules and his determination to manipulate the legal process.
Citing recorded jail calls, prosecutors allege that Combs instructed family members to reach out to potential victims and witnesses, asking them to craft “narratives” aimed at influencing the jury pool. They also claim he encouraged strategies to sway public opinion through marketing and social media.
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“The defendant has shown repeatedly — even while in custody — that he will flagrantly and repeatedly flout rules in order to improperly impact the outcome of his case. The defendant has shown, in other words, that he cannot be trusted to abide by rules or conditions,” prosecutors stated in their redacted filing.
Prosecutors argued that Combs’ actions suggest he intends to intimidate or blackmail witnesses into silence or to provide testimony favorable to his defense.
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Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to allegations that he coerced and abused women for years with the help of a network of associates, employing tactics such as blackmail, violence, kidnapping, and arson to silence his victims. Two judges have already deemed him a flight risk and a danger to the community, denying his previous bail requests.
Despite these rulings, Combs’ legal team recently submitted a renewed request for bail, citing “changed circumstances” and new evidence they claim supports his release ahead of his May 5 trial. Prosecutors countered that the evidence cited was already known to the defense during earlier bail applications.
The government’s filing also highlighted specific instances of Combs’ alleged misconduct in jail, including his use of social media campaigns. They claim Combs directed his family to post a celebratory birthday video on social media, intending to influence potential jurors, and later monitored the video’s analytics from jail to gauge its impact.
Prosecutors further accused Combs of plotting to anonymously disseminate information to bolster his defense and of making repeated attempts to contact potential witnesses, including alleged victims of his abuse.
Defense attorneys for Combs have not commented on the recent allegations. A bail hearing is scheduled for next week, according to AP’s report.
