Now Reading: Here is The Newest On Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs As Mogul Rejects Plea Deal
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Here is The Newest On Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs As Mogul Rejects Plea Deal
Here is The Newest On Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs As Mogul Rejects Plea Deal
Disgraced rap mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs’ trial will start Monday with jury choice, a day after the rapper formally rejected a plea deal on his 5 federal costs, which embrace racketeering and intercourse trafficking. (Here’s a full listing of the allegations in opposition to Combs).
Combs turned down a plea deal from federal prosecutors, confirming his determination with federal Choose Arun Subramanian 4 days earlier than he was scheduled to face trial on 5 federal costs together with intercourse trafficking and racketeering, all of which he has pleaded not responsible to.
At a pre-trial listening to in New York court docket, Subramanian mentioned the protection didn’t show a video of Combs beating Cassie in a lodge in 2016 is inadmissible, stating there’s no “unfair prejudice to Mr. Combs,” after Combs’s legal professionals argued the footage was manipulated.
On the listening to, federal prosecutor Madison Smyser mentioned Combs had rejected a plea provide, although particulars of the deal weren’t disclosed, whereas Combs’s lawyer Marc Agnifilo advised the choose Combs took half within the “way of life” of a “swinger” and argued his sexual encounters had been consensual, a potential trace at Combs’s protection for the trial.
U.S. District Choose Arun Subramanian rejected Combs’ request to delay his trial begin date by two months so his authorized workforce might have further time to arrange a protection in opposition to new costs filed simply two weeks prior, telling the rap mogul he made the request too late, leaving lower than three weeks earlier than Combs stands trial on his felony costs.
Combs, who has been in jail for seven months, pleaded not responsible to new costs of intercourse trafficking and transportation to interact in prostitution, which means he has pleaded not responsible to all 5 of his federal costs.
Prosecutors filed one other superseding indictment in opposition to Combs in New York federal court docket, including two costs to deliver his complete to 5—with new counts together with a further cost of intercourse trafficking and one other rely of transportation to interact in prostitution, each regarding an unnamed sufferer known as “Sufferer-2,” whom prosecutors allege Combs “recruited, enticed, harbored, transported and maintained” to “have interaction in industrial intercourse acts.”
U.S. District Choose J. Paul Oetken mentioned Jones—a former producer for Combs who sued the rap mogul final yr for allegedly forcing him to interact in intercourse acts with intercourse employees and accused him of intercourse trafficking—didn’t present enough injury to “enterprise or property” to deliver claims in opposition to Combs beneath the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, however dominated his intercourse trafficking allegations might proceed.
Combs pleaded not responsible to a brand new indictment prosecutors in Manhattan had filed every week prior, accusing the rap mogul of utilizing power and threats to coerce staff to work lengthy hours, with U.S. District Choose Arun Subramanian noting jury choice for Combs’ trial will start Might 5 for a tentative trial date of Might 12.
Prosecutors filed a brand new indictment in opposition to Combs in New York federal court docket, which didn’t add new costs however accused him of sustaining management over staff by forcing them to “work lengthy hours with little sleep” by subjecting them to, or threatening them with, “bodily power, psychological hurt, monetary hurt, and reputational hurt,” inflicting them to consider they could lose their jobs if they didn’t comply together with his calls for, with Combs allegedly forcing one worker to interact in intercourse acts with him by threats and power.
Combs’ lawyer Marc Agnifolio advised a number of information shops Combs “vehemently denies the accusations,” stating “many former staff stand by his aspect, ready to attest to the dedication, exhausting work, and inspiration they skilled” whereas working for Combs, who “appears ahead to his day in court docket when it should change into clear that he has by no means pressured anybody to interact in sexual acts in opposition to their will” (Forbes has reached out to Agnifolio for remark).
Lawyer Anthony Ricco mentioned in a movement filed Friday that “by no means can I proceed to successfully function counsel for Sean Combs.” He did not cite any particular causes he could not keep on the case, however mentioned they d0 exist and are protected by attorney-client privilege. Combs’ different attorneys, Marc Agnifilo and and Teny Geragos, are anticipated to proceed representing him.
Legal professionals for Sean “Diddy” Combs requested a choose to dismiss one of many costs introduced in opposition to him in a superseding indictment final month—transportation to interact in prostitution—claiming “no white particular person has ever been the goal of a remotely related prosecution. Combs was charged with transportation to interact in prostitution beneath The Mann Act, which in 1910 made it unlawful to move ladies for prostitution and human trafficking. Combs’ attorneys argued in a memorandum filed Tuesday that the statute has racist origins, and that Combs “has been singled out as a result of he’s a robust Black man, and he’s being prosecuted for conduct that commonly goes unpunished.”
A high-profile go well with accusing Combs and fellow rapper Jay-Z of raping a 13-year-old in 2000 was dropped by the plaintiff’s legal professionals, after each Combs and Jay-Z denied the allegations (Learn extra about it right here).
Combs claimed NBCUniversal and Ample Leisure allowed claims they knew had been false to be broadcast within the documentary “Diddy: The Making of a Dangerous Boy,” which launched final month. The lawsuit claims executives knew a number of allegations made within the movie had been false—together with that there are movies of Combs sexually assaulting inebriated celebrities and minors and that Combs was liable for a number of murders—however allowed them to air anyway with “reckless disregard” for the reality.
Within the documentary, a number of folks interviewed make all kinds of allegations about Combs and people near him, together with that Combs had threatened folks. Representatives for NBCUniversal, Peacock & Ample Leisure didn’t instantly reply to Forbes request for remark Wednesday.
Prosecutors filed a superseding indictment that accuses Combs of utilizing power, threats and coercion to trigger not less than three unnamed, feminine victims into industrial intercourse acts, and additional accuses him of abuse that included throwing issues at folks, hitting, choking, pushing and, at one time, dangling a sufferer over an house balcony. His lawyer denied the brand new allegations in a press release to the Related Press.
Combs was reportedly transported from jail to the Brooklyn Hospital Heart at round 10 p.m. for an MRI after complaining of ache in his knee. He returned hours later.
Legal professionals for Sean “Diddy” Combs submitted a letter to federal choose Arun Subramanian demanding prosecutors produce movies talked about within the indictment in opposition to him of his so-called “freak off” events, claiming they present his sexual exercise with one in every of his alleged victims was consensual and that they’ll show the federal government is making an attempt to “police non-confirming sexual exercise.” Combs’ legal professionals declare the 9 movies possessed by prosecutors will present “adults having consensual intercourse, plain and easy” and comprise no proof of violence, coercion, threats, intercourse trafficking or different claims made in opposition to Combs.
Combs appeared in court docket for a short listening to in his federal case at which federal prosecutors mentioned they plan to reveal all obtainable proof to his protection workforce by the tip of the yr in preparation for a Might trial date. One court docket reporter described Combs as showing “thinner” and “grayer” than when he was final seen in public, and the music mogul wished spectators a “Completely happy Holidays” as he left.
Maurene Comey, former FBI director James Comey’s daughter who litigated the case wherein Maxwell was convicted for her position in a scheme to sexually exploit and abuse minor women with Jeffrey Epstein, on Monday notified the federal court docket within the Southern District of New York that she has joined the prosecution in opposition to Combs.
Subramanian denied Combs’ request to be launched on bail citing “compelling proof of Combs’s propensity for violence.” Subramanian’s ruling additionally acknowledged that there was proof supporting “a severe threat of witness tampering,” together with proof that he “violated Bureau of Prisons laws throughout his pretrial detention to obscure his communications with third events.” The choose additionally wrote the federal government prosecutors have proven “by clear and convincing proof that no situation or mixture of circumstances will fairly guarantee the protection of the group.”
Attorneys for the federal authorities argued in opposition to Combs’ push to get launched on $50 million bail and a laundry listing of different circumstances, telling Choose Arun Subramanian in a letter the package deal “doesn’t come shut to making sure the safety of the group” or to making sure Combs will not intrude with the case or attempt to flee earlier than the trial—citing an alleged “sample of violence” towards ladies and his personal workers. In their very own letter, protection attorneys argued Combs has been unconstitutionally held in jail and silenced since he was first arrested in September, that the federal government has launched a marketing campaign in opposition to him to maintain him from getting a good trial and that Combs “will not be required to take a seat idly by and acquiesce to all of this.” Subramanian is predicted to decide on bail by Thanksgiving.
Subramanian heard arguments from attorneys on either side however punted a choice to the next week on whether or not Combs ought to be launched on bail. Subramanian rejected the concept Combs be stored beneath home arrest at a house with a ship dock in Miami however appeared open to probably releasing him to confinement with around-the-clock safety at a three-bedroom house on Manhattan’s Higher East Aspect. He requested legal professionals to submit additional arguments in writing by Monday, Nov. 25.
Subramanian advised prosecutors to “do away with” their copies of handwritten notes taken by Combs in jail, making the choice as he considers authorized arguments from Combs’ legal professionals that the notes had been topic to attorney-client privilege and counter arguments from prosecutors who accused Combs of writing a few witness tampering plot.
In a submitting opposing Combs’ request to be launched on bail, prosecutors declare Combs has tried to “corruptly affect witness testimony” by asking his members of the family to succeed in out to victims and potential witnesses and create “narratives” to have an effect on their opinion, whereas additionally asking his youngsters to put up a video to social media in celebration of his birthday and guaranteeing the video had “his desired impact on potential jury members on this case.”
In “The Downfall of Diddy: Contained in the Freak-Offs,” Ray J claims high-profile celebrities are “reaching out to victims” and providing them cash in alternate for avoiding any public publicity, and aspiring singer-songwriter Tanea Wallace described her expertise at a 2018 celebration the place she mentioned she noticed minors “dressed up like Harajuku Barbies, crimson lipstick, trying like actual horny.”
Combs’ attorneys once more requested the mogul be launched on bail with a $50 million bond with a laundry listing of recent circumstances, together with dwelling detention in Miami or New York Metropolis, safety lockdown and no web entry, which is scheduled to be heard at a listening to on Nov. 22.
In a video posted by his son, Combs spoke to his youngsters on the telephone on his fifty fifth birthday Monday and mentioned, “I can’t wait to see y’all. I simply need to say that I’m pleased with y’all, particularly the women. I imply, all y’all only for being robust.”
Comb’s legal professionals despatched a letter to Subramanian asking he place all potential witnesses beneath a gag order till a federal trial scheduled for Might, claiming a “deluge of improper pretrial publicity that’s undermining Mr. Combs’s proper to a good trial.” (The request comes after a pal of Comb’s late girlfriend Kim Porter spoke exterior a courthouse in Manhattan, saying he’d testified earlier than a grand jury and has footage of Combs raping and sexually assaulting a number of folks, together with minors).
Ty Stiklorius, John Legend’s supervisor, wrote in a New York Instances piece that she herself skilled a “terrifying scenario” wherein she says she was locked in a bed room whereas attending a celebration hosted by Combs in St. Barts within the late Nineties and “managed to speak her manner out” of what she assumed was an irregular expertise, however later realized “what occurred that evening was no aberration—it was an indicator of a pervasive tradition within the music trade.”
Federal authorities mentioned they’d carried out an “interagency operation” on the Metropolitan Detention Heart in Brooklyn the place Combs is awaiting trial, however didn’t present particular particulars about what was accomplished inside the power, which has been the goal of rampant criticism from the Combs workforce and the placement of a number of crimes in latest months, together with a murder-for-hire plot and the stabbing deaths of two inmates.
In a letter submitted to the court docket Friday, Combs’ attorneys requested a gag order be carried out for all federal officers concerned in his case, particularly citing a New York Submit article that quotes a “federal regulation enforcement supply who’s concerned within the investigation” as proof the Division of Homeland Safety is purposefully interfering with Combs’ proper to a good trial (in October, Combs’ authorized workforce claimed DHS leaked an incriminating video of Combs to CNN, which the company denied). A choose later referred to as the quotes within the article “plainly improper” however rejected the gag order request.
Two of Combs’ seven youngsters—Quincy Brown, Combs’ adopted 33-year-old son, and Probability Combs, his 18-year-old daughter with Sarah Chapman—made a joint put up on Instagram calling the final month “devastating” for his or her household and defending their father from what they referred to as “accusations, conspiracy theories and false narratives.”
Combs returned to Instagram for the primary time since his arrest in September with a put up marking the second birthday of his youngest daughter, named Love Sean Combs (he’d beforehand deleted each put up on the social media account as allegations piled up in opposition to him, however has posted a complete of 3 times since July, every time with images of his youngsters).
A U.S. Appeals court docket referred Combs’ newest request for bail to a panel of three judges, however dominated he’ll stay behind bars till a choice is made.
Combs appeared in court docket for the primary time since his arrest, the place a trial date of Might 5 was set for him to face federal costs of racketeering, intercourse trafficking and transportation to interact in prostitution.
Combs’ workforce filed a memo alleging that the Division of Homeland Safety leaked a surveillance video that confirmed him abusing his ex-girlfriend, Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, although prosecutors have denied the allegations and mentioned they didn’t get hold of that video till it was made public by CNN.
Legal professionals for Combs filed paperwork asking he be allowed to await trial exterior of the Metropolitan Detention Heart the place he resides, claiming the preliminary determination to disclaim him bail was unfairly “distorted” by the eye on the case (the preliminary choose, who has since been changed, dominated Combs ought to keep in jail so he can’t use his cash and affect to intrude within the authorities’s case in opposition to him).
Janice Small Combs, Sean Combs’ mom, mentioned in a press release by her household’s legal professional she is “devastated and profoundly saddened” by the allegations in opposition to her son, including these accusing him of misconduct are “searching for a monetary acquire” and likened Combs to “many people” who’ve been “wrongfully convicted as a consequence of their previous actions or errors”—although she additionally mentioned Combs “might have been not fully truthful” when denying assault allegations raised by his ex-girlfriend Ventura.
Legal professionals for Combs filed a discover asking the Second Circuit Court docket of Appeals within the Southern District of New York to overturn the choice to carry him in jail whereas he awaits trial, a alternative Choose Andrew Carter made citing issues Combs had allegedly tampered with witnesses who had been contacted as a part of the investigation in opposition to him (the request was not granted).
A documentary was launched for streaming on Tubi and featured an interview with Combs’ lawyer Marc Agnifilo—who addressed a leaked surveillance video of Combs shoving and kicking ex-girlfriend Ventura—wherein he referred to as the indictment a takedown of a “profitable Black man” and mentioned he does not anticipate Combs to just accept a plea cut price.
Combs’ legal professionals cited “horrific” circumstances on the Metropolitan Detention Heart in Brooklyn, New York in a request for bail—which included a $50 million bond provide, GPS monitoring and strict limitations on guests—that was denied by U.S. District Choose Andrew Carter, who mentioned the circumstances weren’t sufficient to make sure the protection of the group.
A federal court docket in Manhattan unsealed costs in opposition to Combs for racketeering, intercourse trafficking and transportation to interact in prostitution, alleging he “abused, threatened, and coerced ladies and others round him to meet sexual wishes, shield his status, and conceal his conduct.”
Combs was arrested in Manhattan after being indicted by a grand jury.
Sources advised CNN federal investigators had been getting near submitting costs in opposition to Combs, and that plaintiffs who had filed particular person civil lawsuits in opposition to him had been interviewed as a part of the case.
Federal brokers raided Combs’ houses in Florida and California in relation to a federal intercourse trafficking investigation.
A $30 million lawsuit filed by Ventura kicked off a collection of felony complaints in opposition to Combs which have included rape, sexual assault, intercourse trafficking and different claims (see all the allegations right here).
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Jury choice in Combs’ trial will start Might 5. Attendees at jury choice, the place they are going to face questions in particular person, will likely be made up of people that have accomplished questionnaires asking what they already know concerning the case, because the court docket tries to seat jurors who could be neutral. Opening statements within the trial will start Might 12. CNN reported, citing a number of unnamed sources, witnesses within the trial will embrace a number of of Combs’ accusers, together with his former accomplice Cassie Ventura. A pal of Ventura, a enterprise affiliate and a male intercourse employee who’s seen in movies of Combs’ “freak offs” are additionally slated to testify, CNN reported. Combs’ trial is predicted to final not less than eight weeks.
Combs’ trial will start Might 5 in Manhattan’s Southern District of New York federal courthouse, a borough away from Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Heart, the place he’s being held. The trial is predicted to be public, BBC reported, which means media shops will likely be permitted to attend, however it’s not anticipated to be livestream as federal felony circumstances are usually prohibited from permitting cameras within the courtroom.
Combs has denied all the allegations in opposition to him, together with his attorneys characterizing a few of the lawsuits and their accusations to Forbes as cash grabs, “baseless” or “sickening.” In a press release in October, Combs’ attorneys mentioned they’ve “full confidence within the info, their authorized defenses and the integrity of the judicial course of. In court docket, the reality will prevail: that Mr. Combs has by no means sexually assaulted anybody — grownup or minor, man or girl.” Combs’ attorneys additionally addressed April’s superseding indictment, telling Forbes in an e mail, “These aren’t new accusers, these are the identical people, former long-term girlfriends, concerned in consensual relationships. This was their non-public intercourse life.”
Combs was arrested on federal costs in September and, the subsequent day, an indictment in opposition to him was unsealed. The doc alleges Combs “abused, threatened, and coerced ladies and others round him to meet sexual wishes, shield his status, and conceal his conduct,” and likewise accused him of utilizing his enterprise empire to interact in “intercourse trafficking, pressured labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery and obstruction of justice.” Prosecutors allege Combs manipulated ladies into participating in “prolonged intercourse acts with male industrial intercourse employees” in what the mogul described as “Freak Offs,” and that he and his associates drugged ladies to maintain them “obedient and compliant.” Prosecutors accuse Combs and his associates of utilizing bribery, threats and violence to cowl up his alleged abuse, and mentioned he would leverage the monetary help he supplied to coerce ladies, making them really feel they could not resist his calls for “with out risking their monetary or job safety” or subjecting themselves to abuse. Combs’ lawyer Marc Agnifilo mentioned on the time he was “upset with the choice to pursue what we consider is an unjust prosecution of Mr. Combs by the US Lawyer’s Workplace.”
Donald Trump Jr., son of president elect Donald Trump, took to his podcast the day earlier than the election to unfold a weird conspiracy principle linking celebrities who’ve endorsed Kamala Harris to the “freak off” events hosted by Sean “Diddy” Combs, and urged—with out proof—they acquired some form of safety from the vice chairman in alternate for his or her public help. On an episode of “Triggered,” Trump Jr. baselessly claimed the push of movie star endorsements for Kamala Harris within the months main as much as the election had been orchestrated by the vice chairman as a part of a blackmail scheme linked to Diddy’s arrest: “None of that is natural. It’s a paid influencer operation. Know that. The celebrities who aren’t getting paid are getting most likely paid in one other manner as a result of they’re both on an Epstein listing or a Diddy celebration listing or each,” he mentioned. Trump supporter and billionaire Elon Musk additionally talked concerning the Diddy scandal within the days earlier than the election. After singer and actress Jennifer Lopez endorsed Harris for president, Musk appeared on “The Joe Rogan Expertise” podcast to say listeners should not belief her as a result of she did not “warn” folks in opposition to her ex-boyfriend, Combs. “Now deciding she’s like warning folks in opposition to Trump. How many individuals did she warn in opposition to Diddy, proper? Oh zero, OK. Possibly we shouldn’t belief her opinion.”
Sean Combs was as soon as on the trail to turning into a billionaire due to his intensive music profession, enterprise ventures that included the Sean John style and perfume strains and founding the Revolt TV community and since unrealized plans to change into a hashish mogul. Forbes estimated Combs’ private wealth at $740 million in 2019 (he and his workforce later claimed he was a billionaire, however provided no supporting proof). At the moment, Forbes conservatively estimates he’s price $400 million. Combs based his personal file label, Dangerous Boy Information, in 1993, which Rolling Stone has referred to as “some of the influential hip-hop labels of all time.” The label has signed main artists like The Infamous B.I.G., Janelle Monáe and Cassie, and has put out a number of of Combs’ personal albums, together with “Press Play” and “Final Practice To Paris.” Combs bought a 50% stake in Dangerous Boy to Warner Music Group in a reported $30 million deal in 2005. Combs has constructed a fortune by Dangerous Boy Information, a number of liquor manufacturers, a style label and different ventures. He bought his share within the DeLeón tequila model for $200 million earlier this yr. He was ranked No. 14 on Forbes’ listing of the highest-paid entertainers in 2022, making an estimated $90 million that yr. One of many rapper’s raided houses is situated in Holmby Hills, an prosperous neighborhood the place Combs bought a house for $40 million ten years in the past.
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