In a new twist in the ongoing case against Sean “Diddy” Combs, his legal team is accusing the government of leaking information to the media in an attempt to tarnish his image and undermine his right to a fair trial.
Combs’ lawyers filed a motion today requesting an evidentiary hearing to investigate whether government officials leaked sensitive information as part of a wider scheme.
According to the motion, reviewed by Variety, Combs’ legal team claims that the government has taken multiple steps to damage his reputation, including working with the media to shape negative narratives about the rapper and entrepreneur.
They argue that these actions have made it difficult for him to receive a fair trial. The defense is asking the court to consider serious actions against the government, including the possibility of disqualifying witnesses or even dismissing all the charges in the case.
The defense team highlighted four main instances of government misconduct, with the most notable being the leak of a video allegedly showing Combs assaulting his former girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, in 2016.
Combs’ lawyers argue that neither Ventura nor any other third party could have been the source of the video leak, as Ventura had not mentioned the incident in detail in her own legal proceedings against Combs, and a third party would likely have tried to sell the footage. Because of this, the defense is pointing to the government as the likely source of the leak.
The timing of the video’s release is also being questioned. According to the defense, federal agents knew that there would be a break in former President Donald Trump’s trial on May 17 due to his son’s graduation, which created a slow news cycle.
They claim this provided the perfect opportunity for the media to focus on the video leak. Following the release of the footage by CNN, the government allegedly took no further action, which has prompted the defense to request an investigation into whether a government agent provided the tape to the network.
Combs’ legal team also criticized the way the government handled searches of his residences in Los Angeles and Florida in March. According to the defense, these searches were deliberately carried out during daylight hours to ensure maximum media attention.
They allege that media representatives were already present when the search of Combs’ Los Angeles home began, even before crime scene tape was placed around the property, which they suggest implies that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) had tipped off the press.
The defense also claims that excessive force was used during these raids, with Combs’ children being subjected to rough treatment and walked into view of the cameras.
In addition to the video leak and the daylight searches, Combs’ legal team has pointed to several other leaks and anonymous statements from DHS over the past seven months as further evidence of a government effort to smear Combs publicly before his trial.
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They are demanding that the court investigate these claims and take appropriate actions to prevent future leaks. The defense has also asked for full disclosure of any discovery materials related to the alleged leaks, as well as restrictions on government officials releasing more information to the media.
If these allegations are proven true, Combs’ lawyers are asking the court to consider several remedies, including disqualifying key witnesses, suppressing the 2016 video from the trial, or even dismissing all charges against Combs.
This latest legal filing comes as part of the larger federal case against Combs, who is facing serious charges including sex trafficking, racketeering, and transporting individuals for prostitution.
Yesterday, his legal team filed their third appeal for Combs to be released from jail before the trial begins. Earlier today, his lawyers also requested that the trial be scheduled for April or May 2025.
For now, Combs remains in federal custody, and he is set to appear in court tomorrow for a status conference before a new judge assigned to the case.
The defense’s accusations of government misconduct add another layer of complexity to the already high-profile case, which continues to attract significant public and media attention. Whether the court will agree to hold an evidentiary hearing or take action on the defense’s claims remains to be seen.
