On this courtroom sketch, Sean “Diddy” Combs’ protection lawyer Marc Agnifilo, left, addresses the choose whereas Combs, seated second from proper, in jail uniform, watches throughout a listening to in federal court docket in New York, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. Combs’ new protection lawyer, Anthony Ricco is seated far proper. (Elizabeth Williams through AP)
NEW YORK — Attorneys for Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs requested a New York choose Tuesday to power prosecutors to reveal the names of his accusers in his intercourse trafficking case.
The legal professionals wrote in a letter to a Manhattan federal court docket choose that the hip-hop music maker must know the identities of his alleged victims so he can put together adequately for trial.
Final week, a Could 5 trial date was set for Combs. He has pleaded not responsible.
A spokesperson for prosecutors declined remark.
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Combs, 54, stays incarcerated with out bail after his Sept. 16 federal intercourse trafficking arrest. His legal professionals have requested a federal appeals court docket to let him be freed to house detention so he can extra simply meet with legal professionals and put together for trial.
Up to now, judges have concluded he’s a hazard to the group and can’t be freed.
The request to determine accusers comes a day after six new lawsuits have been filed in opposition to Combs anonymously to guard the identities of the alleged victims. Two of the accusers have been recognized as Jane Does whereas 4 males have been listed within the lawsuits as John Does. The lawsuits claimed he used his fame and guarantees of boosting their very own prospects within the music trade to steer victims to attend lavish events or drug-fueled hangouts the place he then assaulted them.
The plaintiffs in Monday’s lawsuits are a part of what their legal professionals say is a gaggle of greater than 100 accusers who’re within the technique of taking authorized motion in opposition to Combs.
Of their letter Tuesday to Decide Arun Subramanian, legal professionals for Combs mentioned the case in opposition to their consumer is exclusive partially due to the variety of accusers. They attributed the amount to “his movie star standing, wealth and the publicity of his beforehand settled lawsuit.”
That reference appeared to quote a November lawsuit filed by his former girlfriend, Cassie, whose authorized title is Casandra Ventura. Combs settled the lawsuit the subsequent day, however its allegations of sexual and bodily abuse have adopted him since.
The Related Press doesn’t sometimes title individuals who say they’ve been sexually abused until they arrive ahead publicly, as Ventura did.
Combs’ legal professionals mentioned the settlement of Cassie’s lawsuit, together with “false inflammatory statements” by federal brokers and Combs’ fame have “had a pervasive ripple impact, leading to a torrent of allegations by unidentified complainants, spanning from the false to outright absurd.”
They mentioned the lawsuits filed Monday, together with different lawsuits, and their “swirling allegations have created a hysterical media circus that, if left unchecked, will irreparably deprive Mr. Combs of a good trial, in the event that they haven’t already.”
The legal professionals wrote that the federal government ought to determine alleged victims as a result of Combs has no method of realizing which allegations prosecutors are counting on of their accusations in an indictment.
“To the extent Mr. Combs is pressured to mount a protection in opposition to prison allegations that the federal government doesn’t search to show at trial, he’s entitled to know that,” the legal professionals mentioned.
The indictment alleges Combs coerced and abused girls for years, with the assistance of a community of associates and staff, whereas utilizing blackmail and violent acts together with kidnapping, arson and bodily beatings to maintain victims from talking out.
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