Disgraced rapper Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has been accused of breaking jail rules in an attempt to “corruptly influence” his upcoming sex-trafficking trial by evading how his jail calls are monitored, launching a public relations strategy and “blackmailing victims”.
According to an opposition filed on Friday (local time), the federal government has accused the musician of “repeatedly” violating jail rules, Page Six reports.
The new accusations were made ahead of the rapper’s bail hearing, which is scheduled for next week. Prosecutors are arguing that Combs should stay in jail up until his trial, which is set to take place on May 5, 2025.
According to the court document, while Combs awaits trial in Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center, the rapper allegedly used the telephone accounts of “at least eight other inmates” in an attempt to hide his phone calls from prosecutors. It’s alleged that Combs used this tactic to call people who are not on his approved contact list.
Prosecutors accused the “Act Bad” rapper of “paying off” inmates through apps and commissary account deposits.
The opposition also accused the rapper of violating rules by instructing the people he calls — including family and members of his legal team — to “add individuals” through a three-way call.
“This practice is also not authorized by BOP [Federal Bureau of Prisons] as it helps conceal the identities of the contacted individuals,” the court documents read, per the publication.
“The defendant’s repeated circumvention of BOP regulations — starting almost immediately after arriving at [Metropolitan Detention Center] — speaks volumes about his ability to comply with any conditions of release.”
Alongside the accusations of breaking prison rules, prosecutors accused the rapper of launching a public relations strategy while in prison. An example it noted was a recent video shared by his children on the rapper’s 55th birthday.
“At the defendant’s carefully curated direction, the defendant’s children posted a video to their respective social media accounts showing the defendant’s children gathered to celebrate the defendant’s birthday,” prosecutors alleged in the court filing, adding, “this kind of interference with a fair trial, the defendant’s own words make clear that he intends to improperly influence the jury pool in this criminal proceeding.”
Prosecutors concluded their statement, labelling Combs’s alleged behaviour as providing “the clear inference that the defendant’s goal is to blackmail victims and witnesses either into silence or providing testimony helpful to his defence’, and argued that he shouldn’t be entitled to another bail hearing.
The rapper is in custody awaiting trial over charges of racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. Combs has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
His legal team has yet to publicly comment on the fresh allegations.
His trial date is currently set for May 5, 2025.
Image source: Getty Images
Help is available.
- If you require immediate assistance, please call 000.
- If you’d like to speak to someone about sexual violence, please call the 1800 Respect hotline on 1800 737 732 or chat online.
- Under 25? You can reach Kids Helpline at 1800 55 1800 or chat online.
The post Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Accused Of Breaking Jail Rules To ‘Corruptly Influence’ Sex Trafficking Trial appeared first on PEDESTRIAN.TV .
