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Sean 'Diddy' Combs is trying to obstruct justice from jail, prosecutors say

Sean 'Diddy' Combs is trying to obstruct justice from jail, prosecutors say
The newly unsealed federal indictment charges Sean Diddy Combs with racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and interstate transportation for prostitution. Combs abused, threatened and coerced victims to fulfill his sexual desires, protect his reputation and conceal his conduct. Graphic details. In the indictment accused Combs and his associates of allegedly forcing female victims to engage in sex acts with commercial sex workers. Combs allegedly planned and controlled the sex performances which he called freak offs and he often electronically recorded them. Combs is accused of using drugs to keep his victims compliant among other tactics. He was violent and he subjected victims of physical emotional and verbal abuse so that they would participate in the freak offs earlier this year. Law enforcement raided homes owned by combs in Miami and L *** seizing *** cache of weapons and digital recordings along with other evidence. He's not guilty. He's innocent of these charges. Combs defense attorney firm in his client's innocence to his great credit. He voluntarily came to New York. Not *** lot of defendants do that. The rapper appeared in court Tuesday afternoon and joined by family members seen arriving earlier if he's convicted. Prosecutors say he faces up to life in prison. He's going to fight this with all of his energy and all of his might and the full confidence of his lawyers. I'm Laura Aguirre reporting.
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Sean 'Diddy' Combs is trying to obstruct justice from jail, prosecutors say
Sean 'Diddy' Combs has tried to reach out to prospective witnesses and influence public opinion from jail in a bid to affect potential jurors for his upcoming sex trafficking trial, prosecutors claimed in a court filing urging a judge to reject his latest bail request.The government accusations were made in a Manhattan federal court filing late Friday that opposes the music mogul's latest $50 million bail proposal. A bail hearing is scheduled for next week.Prosecutors wrote that a review of recorded jail calls made by Combs shows he has asked family members to reach out to potential victims and witnesses and has urged them to create "narratives" to influence the jury pool. They say he also has encouraged marketing strategies to sway public opinion."The defendant has shown repeatedly 鈥� even while in custody 鈥� that he will flagrantly and repeatedly flout rules in order to improperly impact the outcome of his case. The defendant has shown, in other words, that he cannot be trusted to abide by rules or conditions," prosecutors wrote in a submission that contained redactions.Prosecutors wrote that it could be inferred from his behavior that Combs wants to blackmail victims and witnesses into silence or into providing testimony helpful to his defense.Lawyers for Combs did not immediately respond to requests for comment.Prosecutors said Combs, 55, began breaking rules almost as soon as he was detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn after his September arrest.He has pleaded not guilty to charges that he coerced and abused women for years with the aid of a network of associates and employees, while silencing victims through blackmail and violence, including kidnapping, arson and physical beatings.Two judges have concluded he is a danger to the community and a risk to flee.His lawyers recently made a third request for bail after the rejection of two previous attempts, including a $50 million bail proposal.In the request, they cited changed circumstances, including new evidence, which they said made it sensible to release Combs so he can better prepare for his May 5 trial.But prosecutors said defense lawyers created their latest bail proposal using some evidence prosecutors turned over to them and the new material was already known to defense lawyers when they made previous bail applications.In their submission to a judge, prosecutors said Combs' behavior in jail shows he must remain locked up.For instance, they said, Combs has enlisted family members to plan and carry out a social media campaign around his birthday "with the intention of influencing the potential jury in this criminal proceeding."He encouraged his children to post a video to their social media accounts showing them gathered to celebrate his birthday, they said.Afterward, he monitored the analytics, including audience engagement, from the jail and "explicitly discussed with his family how to ensure that the video had his desired effect on potential jury members in this case," they said.The government also alleged Combs during other calls made clear his intention to anonymously publish information that he thought would help his defense against the charges."The defendant's efforts to obstruct the integrity of this proceeding also includes relentless efforts to contact potential witnesses, including victims of his abuse who could provide powerful testimony against him," prosecutors wrote.

Sean 'Diddy' Combs has tried to reach out to prospective witnesses and influence public opinion from jail in a bid to affect potential jurors for his upcoming sex trafficking trial, prosecutors claimed in a court filing urging a judge to reject his latest bail request.

The government accusations were made in a Manhattan federal court filing late Friday that opposes the music mogul's latest $50 million bail proposal. A bail hearing is scheduled for next week.

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Prosecutors wrote that a review of recorded jail calls made by Combs shows he has asked family members to reach out to potential victims and witnesses and has urged them to create "narratives" to influence the jury pool. They say he also has encouraged marketing strategies to sway public opinion.

"The defendant has shown repeatedly 鈥� even while in custody 鈥� that he will flagrantly and repeatedly flout rules in order to improperly impact the outcome of his case. The defendant has shown, in other words, that he cannot be trusted to abide by rules or conditions," prosecutors wrote in a submission that contained redactions.

Prosecutors wrote that it could be inferred from his behavior that Combs wants to blackmail victims and witnesses into silence or into providing testimony helpful to his defense.

Lawyers for Combs did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Prosecutors said Combs, 55, began breaking rules almost as soon as he was detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn after his September arrest.

He has pleaded not guilty to charges that he coerced and abused women for years with the aid of a network of associates and employees, while silencing victims through blackmail and violence, including kidnapping, arson and physical beatings.

Two judges have concluded he is a danger to the community and a risk to flee.

His lawyers recently made a third request for bail after the rejection of two previous attempts, including a $50 million bail proposal.

In the request, they cited changed circumstances, including new evidence, which they said made it sensible to release Combs so he can better prepare for his May 5 trial.

But prosecutors said defense lawyers created their latest bail proposal using some evidence prosecutors turned over to them and the new material was already known to defense lawyers when they made previous bail applications.

In their submission to a judge, prosecutors said Combs' behavior in jail shows he must remain locked up.

For instance, they said, Combs has enlisted family members to plan and carry out a social media campaign around his birthday "with the intention of influencing the potential jury in this criminal proceeding."

He encouraged his children to post a video to their social media accounts showing them gathered to celebrate his birthday, they said.

Afterward, he monitored the analytics, including audience engagement, from the jail and "explicitly discussed with his family how to ensure that the video had his desired effect on potential jury members in this case," they said.

The government also alleged Combs during other calls made clear his intention to anonymously publish information that he thought would help his defense against the charges.

"The defendant's efforts to obstruct the integrity of this proceeding also includes relentless efforts to contact potential witnesses, including victims of his abuse who could provide powerful testimony against him," prosecutors wrote.