It’s been a while since we peeped what’s going on between the Feds and Sean “Diddy” Combs through their legal filings. But tee latest development promises to be a serious blow to Combs’ effort to keep the media out of his business.
Attorneys for the rap mogul filed a motion in federal court requesting a gag order be placed on federal prosecutors as relief from the government’s “leaks of confidential, damaging and false information to the press.” The request said the order would keep prosecutors from undermining Combs’ right to a fair trial while also placing restraints on the defense to do the same, court documents show.
For context, Combs’ attorneys filed a motion earlier this month requesting a hearing to present evidence on the accusation that the Department of Homeland Security leaked to the media video footage of Combs violently beating ex-girlfriend and singer Casandra “Cassie” Ventura in a hotel hallway, according to court documents.
In opposition to the motion, prosecutors said Friday they disagreed with the language of the proposed order concerning who exactly would be bound by the order, per court documents. The request extended to any local and federal law enforcement agents as well as officials from the DHS. Prosecutors said the request was “plainly overbroad,” making them responsible for the practically thousands of federal agents, many of which don’t even have access to case information. Court documents show prosecutors proposed their own, much shorter gag order proposal.
Combs’ attorneys submitted their version of the order anyway to see if the judge would bite. He did not.
In fact, Southern District of New York Judge Arun Subramanian ruled against both parties, declining to adopt either of their gag order proposals in full. Instead, the judge adopted an order charging both sides to make sure anyone involved in the case or investigation understood what they can and can’t disclose. He also made clear there was no finding of any wrongdoing as far as the accusations that case information had been leaked.
On Monday, Sept. 16, the 54-year-old rap mogul was arrested in Manhattan by federal authorities. His indictment was unsealed the following morning, revealing charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and engaging in interstate transportation for prostitution. Combs’ arrest was roughly six months after the federal raids. He’s pleaded not guilty to the charges and was denied bail three times; Combs is headed to trial in May 2025.