Prosecutors have accused Sean “Diddy” Combs of violating prison rules by attempting to contact potential witnesses ahead of his upcoming sex trafficking trial.
They allege that the music mogul has been using other inmates’ phone accounts and three-way calls to speak with individuals who are not on his approved contact list, in a bid to influence witness testimony.
A review of recorded phone calls also reportedly revealed that Combs instructed his family members to reach out to potential witnesses on his behalf, according to a court filing.
Combs, 55, is currently in custody in Manhattan, where he has pleaded not guilty to all charges and strongly denied any wrongdoing.
The musician, known for hits like I’ll Be Missing You and Mo’ Money, Mo’ Problems, has been denied bail since his arrest. Several judges have cited concerns over the potential risk of witness tampering.
Last week, his legal team filed a renewed request for bail, proposing a $50 million package that would see Combs monitored 24/7 by security personnel while under house arrest.
Combs’ lawyer, Alexandra Shapiro, argued that the musician is unable to adequately prepare for his trial from behind bars, given the vast amount of material he needs to review—especially without access to a laptop computer.
Alexandra Shapiro, Sean “Diddy” Combs’ lawyer, also stated that his ability to prepare for trial has been further hindered by jail conditions, including frequent lockdowns and the confiscation of his pens, which he uses to take notes.
She argued that the conditions in detention are depriving Combs of any real opportunity to adequately prepare for his trial, thereby violating his constitutional rights.
In response, prosecutors opposed the renewed request for bail, arguing that Combs “poses serious risks of danger and obstruction” to the legal proceedings.
In court filings, they accused him of attempting to influence the trial by orchestrating social media posts to potentially sway the jury pool.
One of the incidents highlighted by prosecutors involved an Instagram post made by a woman identified as “witness two,” which countered allegations made by singer Dawn Richard in a civil lawsuit against Combs.
Prosecutors claimed that the statement was drafted in collaboration with Combs, following “multiple texts” and “multiple calls” from prison.
They further alleged there was a “strong inference” that Mr Combs “paid witness two, after she posted her statement”.
A video posted by the star’s seven children on 5 November was also cited as evidence of a “public relations strategy to influence this case”.
The video, which was reported by multiple media outlets, showed the family wishing Mr Combs a happy birthday during a prison phone call.
“The defendant then monitored the analytics – ie audience engagement – and explicitly discussed with his family how to ensure that the video had his desired effect on potential jury members in this case,” prosecutors said.
Mr Combs was also accused of using the phone accounts of at least eight other inmates to make calls, which is against prison regulations; and of “directing others” to orchestrate payment for this access.
Prosecutors characterised Mr Combs as running a “relentless” scheme to “contact potential witnesses, including victims of his abuse who could provide powerful testimony against him”.
‘Uncanny ability’
Urging the judge to deny Mr Combs’ request for bail, the prosecutors wrote that “no set of conditions” could eliminate the potential risks to the trial.
“The defendant has demonstrated an uncanny ability to get others to do his bidding – employees, family members, and [prison] inmates alike,” they claimed.
“There is no reason to believe that private security personnel would be immune.”
Prosecutors also dismissed criticism regarding the conditions at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, referencing a statement from Combs’ lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, who acknowledged that “food’s probably the roughest part” of Combs’ adjustment to life behind bars.
Combs’ legal team has yet to respond to the latest court motion, though the BBC has reached out to them for comment.
The musician’s legal troubles began in November 2023, when his ex-partner, Cassandra “Cassie” Ventura, filed a civil lawsuit accusing him of rape and physical assault between 2007 and 2018.
The case was swiftly settled, but it triggered a wave of similar accusations and led to an investigation by the US government.
In March, federal agents raided Combs’ properties, and he was arrested in New York in September.
He faces three counts of sex trafficking and racketeering in a federal indictment, which details allegations of drug-fueled, multi-day sexual performances referred to as “Freak Offs.”
In addition to the criminal charges, Combs is facing over two dozen civil suits from both men and women who accuse him of sexual assault, rape, and exploitation.
The musician has strongly denied all charges, asserting that the sexual encounters at the center of his criminal case were consensual.
New lawsuit filed against lawyer
In a separate development on Monday, a lawsuit was filed against one of the attorneys who has led over 120 legal actions against Mr. Combs.
The lawsuit, lodged by an unnamed “high-profile individual” against Texas lawyer Tony Buzbee, accuses him of attempting to extort the plaintiff by threatening to publicize “entirely fabricated and malicious allegations of sexual assault.”
Court documents obtained by the BBC reveal that the plaintiff is a former associate of Diddy and admits to having attended events with the embattled music mogul.
The lawsuit claims that Mr. Buzbee follows a “clear playbook” for extorting celebrities by fabricating allegations and demanding letters for payment.
It further alleges that if the demands are not met, he resorts to using the media to apply public pressure.
Mr. Buzbee, who denies the allegations, has called the lawsuit a “last-ditch attempt” to prevent him from revealing the individual’s identity.
“It is obvious that the frivolous lawsuit filed against my firm is an aggressive attempt to intimidate or silence me and ultimately my clients,” he said in a statement sent to the BBC.
“No amount of money was included in the demand letters,” he wrote. “No threats were made. The demand letters sent are no different than the ones routinely sent by lawyers across the country in all types of cases.”