Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs seeks jail release in order to prepare for trial, requests court permission | US News
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has requested to be released from jail in preparation for his trial in May, citing changed circumstances and new evidence.
Attorneys for the hip-hop mogul, who was arrested on racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking charges in September, filed a new bail request in a Manhattan federal court.
The 55-year-old’s previous three bail requests have been denied by judges who cited concerns about potential witness tampering.
Combs has been awaiting his 5th May trial at a federal detention facility in Brooklyn.
He pleaded not guilty to charges of coercing and abusing women with the help of associates and employees, silencing victims through blackmail and violence, including kidnapping, arson, and physical assaults.
Read more: What is Sean Combs charged with?
In their court filing, Combs’s lawyers propose a stricter bail package with 24/7 security monitoring and severe restrictions on communication except with legal counsel.
The bail package is set at $50 million (£38.7 million), the same as previous requests.
Combs’s legal team also presented new evidence that they claim weakens the government’s case against him.
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The lawyers stated that this new evidence disputes the government’s theory regarding a video from March 2016 portraying Combs physically assaulting his then-girlfriend during a coerced “freak off” event – a term used for drug-fueled sexual acts that were reportedly recorded and extended over several days.
They argued that the video actually showed “a brief glimpse into a complicated but consensual relationship” between Combs and his girlfriend.
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The lawyers also argued that Combs’ jail conditions violated his constitutional rights to participate in his own defense.
The presiding US district judge, Arun Subramanian, denied Combs’ request for a gag order preventing his accusers from discussing the case publicly.
Combs’ legal team contended that the approximately 30 civil cases accusing him of wrongdoing were impeding his right to a fair trial.
