close
close

Association-anemone

Bite-sized brilliance in every update

Diddy accused of “relentless efforts to contact potential witnesses” behind bars
asane

Diddy accused of “relentless efforts to contact potential witnesses” behind bars

Sean “Diddy” Combs is accused of breaking the rules “repeatedly” behind bars in an attempt to influence the outcome of his sex-trafficking trial, according to prosecutors who asked a judge to deny the hip-hop mogul’s latest bail request.

Those “relentless efforts” allegedly include trying to contact potential witnesses or potential victims and asking his children run social media campaigns to influence public opinion.

In their latest court filing, prosecutors say they discovered Combs’ attempts after reviewing recorded phone calls from prison.

Combs, who was it? arrested on September 16 on sex-trafficking and racketeering charges, spends his days at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center while he waits his trial to begin on May 5. He has pleaded not guilty and denies any wrongdoing.

Earlier this month, Combs’ attorneys proposed new conditions for his immediate releaseafter two previous ones unsuccessful attempts. The proposal includes a $50 million bond agreement, round-the-clock house arrest and strict limitations on his ability to contact anyone outside his legal team.

Citing “new evidence” and “changed circumstances,” Combs’ lawyers argued that keeping him in custody leaves him “unconstitutionally handicapped” in participating in his defense and preparing for trial.

But in documents filed in federal court in Manhattan late Friday night, prosecutors say the 55-year-old Grammy winner began breaking prison rules almost as soon as he arrived at the detention center.

“The defendant has repeatedly shown — even while in custody — that he will blatantly and repeatedly break the rules in order to improperly affect the outcome of his case,” prosecutors wrote in their filing. “The defendant has shown, in other words, that he cannot be trusted to follow the rules or conditions.”

According to the recorded calls, the former pop culture powerhouse was also clear about his intentions to anonymously share information he believed would ultimately help his defense, prosecutors say.

“Defendant’s efforts to obstruct the integrity of this proceeding also include tireless efforts to contact potential witnesses, including victims of his abuse, who could provide powerful testimony against him,” prosecutors wrote.

They say they can infer from his behavior that Combs intends to blackmail victims and witnesses into silence, telling the judge he should stay locked up.

Combs’ legal team did not immediately respond to requests for comment Saturday.

A bail hearing is scheduled for late next week.

With News Wire Services