Judge Orders Destruction of Notes as Prosecutors Accuse Diddy of Obstructing Justice from Jail

Nov 19, 2024, 04:24 AM

Federal prosecutors have accused music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs of attempting to obstruct justice from jail by manipulating witness testimony and tainting the potential jury pool in his upcoming sex trafficking trial scheduled for May. In court documents filed last week, prosecutors allege that Combs has violated jail rules by trying to contact prospective witnesses and influence public opinion. They claim that he has been paying fellow inmates for the use of their telephone accounts to evade monitoring by authorities and has sought to arrange three-way calls to associates considered part of his 'criminal enterprise.' A search of Combs' jail cell at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn reportedly uncovered handwritten notes that prosecutors say reveal his intent to blackmail victims and witnesses either into silence or providing favorable testimony. Combs' lawyers have accused the government of 'outrageous conduct,' arguing that the seizure of his personal notes violates his Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Amendment rights and have requested an immediate hearing. At a court hearing on Tuesday, where Combs' lawyers requested he appear unshackled, a judge ordered prosecutors to destroy copies of the seized notes pending a decision on their admissibility. Prosecutors continue to oppose Combs' bail request—including a $50 million bond—arguing that he poses a risk of obstructing justice through a blackmail campaign.