It’s nearly time for a Unhealthy Boy mogul to face the music.
Sean “Diddy” Combs is days away from dealing with what would be the most consequential authorized battle of his profession. Jury choice for his federal intercourse trafficking trial is about to start on Might 5, and the rapper and music mogul is doing every part in his energy to guard his repute 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 choose 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 on account of psychological well being points.
The Court docket Denied Diddy’s Request To Block New “Freak-Off” Proof From Being Reviewed Throughout Trial
On the middle 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, in accordance with court docket paperwork obtained by Individuals. Notably, whereas the intercourse trafficking-related proof can be admitted, claims involving pressured 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” concerning 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 pressured 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 towards 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 making ready a protection based mostly on his alleged diminished psychological capability. In keeping with court docket paperwork obtained by TMZ, attorneys for the “Final Evening” hitmaker are gearing as much as current skilled 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 observe 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 skilled by no means examined Diddy personally and that his opinion on Diddy’s mind-set is speculative and legally irrelevant. In addition 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 on account of intoxication.
Diddy Needs A Gag Order In Place To Forestall Media Affect
In one other authorized maneuver, Diddy’s attorneys have requested the choose to impose a gag order on attorneys representing alleged victims, citing issues over prejudicial media protection that would sway the jury. In keeping with Each 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 exhibiting Diddy dragging Ventura by the hair, which can be admitted as proof regardless of the protection’s declare that the footage was “edited” and “manipulated.”
In March, Wigdor pushed again towards Diddy’s claims, telling Each 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 in search of 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 electronic mail to Each day Mail. “Given this, it ought to come as no shock that Combs fails to quote even one case to help his request.”
As beforehand reported, prosecutors just lately supplied Combs a plea deal, however he declined, opting as an alternative 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 movie star instances lately.
What do you consider these newest makes an attempt made by the hip-hop mogul?
