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topicnews · October 26, 2024

Diddy loses motion for confidentiality over alleged government leaks

Diddy loses motion for confidentiality over alleged government leaks

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Attorneys for Sean “Diddy” Combs have lost an attempt to impose a gag order on government agencies involved in the investigation of his federal racketeering and sex trafficking case, which Combs’ team has accused of leaking information to the press.

In an order Friday reviewed by USA TODAY, Judge Arun Subramanian declined to accept any of the proposals submitted by the prosecution and defense. Instead, he wrote, both sides are expected to abide by existing laws that prohibit lawyers, investigators and government officials from disclosing grand jury proceedings and disclosing nonpublic information that could prejudice a fair trial.

“To be clear, this order is not based on a finding of wrongdoing to date, as the court has not made any findings at this time regarding defendant’s allegations that information related to the case was leaked,” Subramanian wrote. “The purpose of this order is to ensure that nothing happens from now on that would prejudice a fair trial.”

When reached by USA TODAY, an attorney for Combs declined to comment.

Earlier this month, Combs’ lawyers had asked the judge to issue an order prohibiting federal employees from releasing evidence to the news media that they said “undermines Mr. Combs’ right to a fair trial.” The defense and U.S. attorneys discussed the matter but were unable to agree on the language of a joint order and instead presented their own individual proposals.

Federal judge promises to take “appropriate action” against leaks

In a letter addressed Friday, Combs’ team alerted the judge to a New York Post article published that day that allegedly “quoted a federal law enforcement source involved in the investigation” making comments Combs’ alleged freak-offs.

“These comments, when made by an agent involved in the investigation or prosecution of this case, are clearly inappropriate,” Subramanian wrote. “This order requires the government, the agencies involved in this case or the related investigation of their obligations under Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 6(e) and Local Civil Rule 23.1 of the United States District Courts for Southern and Eastern New York York” give them this order.

The judge added: “The court will take appropriate action for any breach of the rules.”

Combs’ team’s request for an evidentiary hearing to investigate alleged government misconduct is still pending.

As stated in a letter filed in court earlier this month, Combs’ team believes that since March, the government has been “strategically leaking classified grand jury materials and information, including the 2016 Intercontinental videotape, in order to protect the public and… to harm potential jurors against Mr.” . Combs.”

This sparked “public hostility toward Mr. Combs leading up to the trial,” they wrote. In May, CNN released hotel surveillance footage from 2016 that showed Combs kicking, punching and dragging his ex-girlfriend Cassie near a hotel’s elevators. Combs apologized in a video for his “inexcusable” behavior; His lawyers portrayed the abuse as the result of a toxic relationship rather than evidence of sex trafficking.

The hip-hop superstar was arrested at a Manhattan hotel on September 16 and charged the following day with sex trafficking, extortion and conveyance for prostitution. Investigators said the 54-year-old made elaborate plans to use his finances and status in the entertainment industry to “fulfill his sexual desires” in a “recurring and well-known” pattern of abuse.

Since then, he has been held in the special housing unit at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn and has maintained his innocence, pleading not guilty to all federal criminal charges and denying alleged wrongdoing in mounting civil lawsuits against him over the past year.

All of Combs’ previous attempts to have him released from prison pending his May 5 trial have been rejected. They are seeking an appeals court ruling that would overturn a Sept. 18 decision denying his request to be released from prison on the condition of $50 million bail.

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