Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has been incarcerated since September and is asking to be released from jail to prepare for his May trial. The hip-hop mogul arrested in September on racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking charges is currently being held inside Brooklyn’s federal detention center, awaiting his trial on May 5th.
Combs, who pled not guilty, had been indicted for using blackmail, violence, and threats for years to force and abuse women with the help of associates.
Following prior denials of bail, his lawyers now offer a more stringent security setup, including 24/7 monitoring-to insulate against potential witness interference.
In the new filing, Combs’ legal team also presented evidence they said undermined the government’s case. For instance, they say a 2016 video cited by prosecutors as evidence of abuse is actually a “minutes-long glimpse” of a “complex,” yet consensual relationship. Combs’s lawyers further contend that his detention is truncating his right to take part in his defense and that the plethora of civil cases against him are biasedly affecting his chance for a fair trial.
U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian so far has rejected other motions on behalf of Combs, including a gag order that barred accusers from speaking publicly about the case. The court has yet to take up Combs’ latest request to be let out on pretrial release.
