Sean 'Diddy' Combs Focuses on Case Preparation and Family Visits While in Jail, Source Reveals
Sean "Diddy" Combs has been using his three-week incarceration to strategize with his legal counsel, concentrating on his defense, and accepting visits from family, a source informed CNN.
"His family members come to see him. He communicates with his legal team. Those are his sole visitors," the source disclosed. "His focus is singularly on his case. That occupies his entire day."
Currently detained in a federal facility, the artist anticipates his trial on charges including racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and facilitating prostitution. He has entered a plea of not guilty.
According to the source, Combs' children have visited him at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center. His family includes four grown children and twin teenage daughters, all of whom have visited. He also has a toddler daughter.
"He's holding up, but it's a struggle. He's a devoted family man and cherishes fatherhood," the source mentioned.
Combs will attend a status hearing on Thursday, though he is not expected to address the court, as the source indicated.
His legal representatives are advocating for a swift trial, given his bail denial on two occasions.
In correspondence with Judge Arun Subramanian, Combs' lawyers expressed their intention to seek an April or May 2025 trial date.
Prosecutors have signaled readiness for whichever date the judge decides, though they note that setting a trial date presently is unnecessary, as per the joint letter.
Late Wednesday, Combs' legal team filed a motion asserting that the government leaked a video showing the hip-hop icon assaulting his former partner, along with other evidence, to the media. They seek to have the footage potentially excluded from trial.
The Southern District of New York motion refers to a 2016 hotel surveillance video, exclusively released by CNN, depicting Combs dragging and kicking Cassie Ventura, his then-girlfriend.
Combs initially refuted Ventura's abuse claims, which surfaced in a November 2023 lawsuit filed before the video's release. Afterward, he issued an apology.
His attorneys accuse the government of leaking the video to CNN, though no supporting evidence was provided.
In a Wednesday night letter, Damian Williams, the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, stated, "The Government was not in possession of the video prior to CNN's publication," dismissing Combs' claim of government involvement in the leak or grand jury confidentiality breaches.
CNN opted not to comment.
The motion also accuses authorities of alerting the media about March searches of Combs' residences in Los Angeles and Miami.
Such leaks, they argue, could "taint the jury pool and infringe Mr. Combs' right to a fair trial."
Combs' attorneys urged the judge to implement a gag order to prevent the government from discussing case evidence with the media.
They argue the leaks originated from Homeland Security Investigations agents, not case prosecutors.
HSI New York declined to comment.
Thursday marks Combs' third court appearance post-arrest and his first before Subramanian, a Biden appointee to the bench last year. Subramanian took over the case after Judge Andrew Carter recused himself.
Carter, an Obama appointee, transferred the case due to a longstanding relationship with one of Combs' new attorneys, a court spokesperson explained. Initially, Carter had denied Combs bail over concerns about witness tampering and potential violence, citing Combs' contact with subpoenaed witnesses.
Combs has since expanded his legal team and appealed the bail decision.
Prosecutors have commenced evidence delivery to Combs' defense, including a seized cell phone and are duplicating 40 devices and five iCloud reports for the defense to review.
Combs' lawyers demand immediate access to materials seized over half a year ago, emphasizing their necessity for his defense preparation.
