It’s virtually time for a Unhealthy Boy mogul to face the music.
Sean “Diddy” Combs is days away from dealing with what could be the most consequential authorized battle of his profession. Jury choice for his federal intercourse trafficking trial is about to start on Could 5, and the rapper and music mogul is doing the whole lot in his energy to guard his fame and keep his innocence amid a wave of significant allegations starting from sexual assault and coercion to drugging, racketeering, and compelled labor.
Diddy is pushing the court docket to exclude new proof associated to his infamous “freak-off” events from being introduced at trial, whereas additionally urging the decide to impose a gag order on alleged victims forward of proceedings. Including to the controversy, the rapper claimed that a few of his previous misconduct was as a result of psychological well being points.
The Courtroom Denied Diddy’s Request To Block New “Freak-Off” Proof From Being Reviewed Throughout Trial
On the heart of the pretrial chaos is Diddy’s try to dam prosecutors from introducing new proof tied to his notorious “freak-off” events, alleged non-public occasions described by victims as settings for abuse and exploitation. On April 25, U.S. District Choose Arun Subramanian denied a request from Diddy’s authorized staff to seal proof associated to the freaky occasions, based on court docket paperwork obtained by Folks. Notably, whereas the intercourse trafficking-related proof might be admitted, claims involving compelled labor from a former worker is not going to be permitted through the trial.
Diddy’s attorneys argue that prosecutors unfairly launched “new theories” and “new proof” in regards to the freak-offs with out giving the protection ample time to reply. They claimed that even the prosecution has admitted a number of the sexual exercise was “consensual,” and that the protection is now compelled to focus solely on allegations of coercion. Nevertheless, prosecutors pushed again in a letter filed April 26, calling the 55-year-old rapper’s request “one more pretextual try and exclude highly effective proof in opposition to him with no correct authorized foundation.”
Protection Claims Diddy’s Psychological Well being Was Compromised At The Time Of His Alleged Crimes
In a stunning twist, Diddy’s authorized staff seems to be getting ready a protection based mostly on his alleged diminished psychological capability. In line with court docket paperwork obtained by TMZ, attorneys for the “Final Evening” hitmaker are gearing as much as current knowledgeable testimony from a Columbia College professor claiming that Diddy was affected by a “psychological situation” on the time of the alleged crimes. Whereas the specifics of the situation are redacted, prosecutors be aware the protection is tied to Diddy’s alleged historical past of substance abuse, together with drug and alcohol use, which will have impaired his reminiscence or judgment.
Prosecutors are already pushing to dam this testimony, arguing that the proposed knowledgeable by no means examined Diddy personally and that his opinion on Diddy’s way of thinking is speculative and legally irrelevant. Additionally they level out the irony within the declare: whereas Diddy is accused of drugging his victims to exert management, he might now argue that he himself was not absolutely in management as a result of intoxication.
Diddy Needs A Gag Order In Place To Stop Media Affect
In one other authorized maneuver, Diddy’s attorneys have requested the decide to impose a gag order on attorneys representing alleged victims, citing issues over prejudicial media protection that might sway the jury. In line with Day by day Mail, in a letter filed Tuesday, his authorized staff accused attorneys—particularly Douglas Wigdor, who represents Combs’ ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura—of deliberately tainting the jury pool by making inflammatory public feedback. The protection cited Wigdor’s remarks a few 2016 surveillance video displaying Diddy dragging Ventura by the hair, which might be admitted as proof regardless of the protection’s declare that the footage was “edited” and “manipulated.”
In March, the lawyer pushed again in opposition to Diddy’s claims, telling Day by day Mail that the video footage “pretty and precisely represents what occurred” to Cassie “and that Combs must be “held accountable for his depravity.”
Wigdor has reportedly dismissed the gag order request and he intends to file a proper response.
“We are going to vigorously oppose the movement looking for a unprecedented sweeping gag order as it’s an apparent try at controlling and silencing victims and their counsel in contravention of well-established authorized and moral precedent,” Wigdor penned in a current e-mail to Day by day Mail. “Given this, it ought to come as no shock that Combs fails to quote even one case to assist his request.”
The disturbing video is anticipated to be introduced in court docket, regardless of robust opposition from Diddy and his authorized staff.
As beforehand reported, prosecutors not too long ago provided Combs a plea deal, however he declined, opting as a substitute to proceed with the trial. With jury choice simply across the nook, the court docket seems more and more skeptical of the protection’s last-minute methods. From controversial claims of psychological incapacity to makes an attempt at silencing victims’ authorized groups, Diddy’s sex-trafficking trial is already shaping as much as be one of the vital intently watched superstar circumstances lately.
What do you concentrate on these newest makes an attempt made by the hip-hop mogul?
