Federal prosecutors are once again urging a judge not to grant Sean “Diddy” Combs bail, alleging the mogul tried to tamper with witnesses and influence potential jurors from behind bars.
Prosecutors filed the motion late Friday in response to a motion filed by Combs requesting another bail hearing after two different judges denied him pretrial release.
In the latest filing, prosecutors allege that Combs made “aggressive efforts to contact potential witnesses, including victims of his abuse who could provide strong testimony against him.”
The Bad Boy Records founder is accused of using phone access codes, known as PAC numbers, for other inmates to call several people — including his sons — from prison and making “three-way calls to contact other individuals.”
Prosecutors also allege that Combs used a third-party communications service called ContactMeASAP to contact “unauthorized” individuals.
Many of the allegations made by prosecutors in the filing have been redacted. Prosecutors pointed to the case of an October call between Combs and one of his adult children as an example of his alleged efforts to contact witnesses, but the details of that call appear to have been redacted. However, prosecutors allege that the call “provides a clear inference that Defendant’s goal was to blackmail victims and witnesses into either silencing their voices or providing testimony useful to his defense.”
Sean “Diddy” Combs.
Steve Granitz/WireImage
Prosecutors allege Combs also sought to shape public perception of the case from behind bars. They cite a video posted by Combs’ son, Justin, on Instagram, showing the Mongolian children singing Happy Birthday over the phone to their jailed father, who turned 55 on Nov. 4.
Prosecutors say that from prison, Combs “monitored analytics” and “audience interaction — and openly discussed with his family how to ensure the video had the desired effect on potential jurors in this case.”
The mogul is charged with sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation for prostitution following a federal indictment.
Combs was initially denied bail when the judge cited concerns about possible witness tampering.
The indictment against Combs alleges that he used his influence to organize “freak acts,” which prosecutors say were highly coordinated sexual performances involving male sex workers and women who were forced or coerced to participate.
Combs has pleaded not guilty, but has been detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn while awaiting trial.
In a filing dated November 8, Combs’ lawyers tried again to get him released, but under very strict conditions.
The motion seeking bail claims the prosecution’s case is “weak” and cites a March 2016 video referenced in the initial indictment against the Bad Boy Records founder, in which he appears to violently assault a woman in a Los Angeles hotel.
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The defense claims that “the video is not evidence of a forced ‘exit,’ but rather a minutes-long glimpse into a complex but consensual decade-long relationship between Mr. Combs and Victim 1.”
Combs’ lawyers proposed house arrest with 24/7 security surveillance and “almost complete restrictions” on Combs’ ability to contact anyone except his defense team.
Combs’ trial is currently scheduled for May 2025.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or visit rainn.org.
