Sean “Diddy” Combs' lawyers argued that disgraced billionaire Bad Boy was deprived of his right to a fair trial as a result of a series of “unlawful government leaks” in new motions filed Wednesday.
Combs, 54, requested a hearing to investigate alleged government misconduct in connection with the leaks of “emails, documents and records in the possession of the government (including DHS) related to these leaks),” according to documents obtained by Fox News Digital.
He accused Department of Homeland Security agents of making “false and biased statements” to various news media over the past seven months to raiding his homes in Miami and Los Angeles, where his sons were “handcuffed and harassed by federal agents armed with assault rifles.” .
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Sean Combs has claimed that the government is responsible for the leak of a 2016 surveillance video showing an alleged violent incident with his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura. (Getty Images)
The “Last Night” singer accused authorities of leaking 2016 Intercontinental Hotel surveillance footage to CNN that allegedly showed Combs attacking his then-girlfriend. Kasia Ventura.
Combs “kicked, pulled and threw a vase at the woman who was trying to leave,” the indictment says. “When the hotel security officer intervened, Combs tried to bribe him to keep quiet.”
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“While the government's misconduct in this case is particularly egregious, it is unfortunately part of a trend in this district — the government has learned that it can strategically disclose information with impunity,” the documents read. “This Court should use its powers to prohibit such underhanded tactics that seriously undermine an accused's right to a fair trial.”
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The hearing request “is needed to determine exactly what DHS did and did not do in connection with these leaks, as well as what the United States Attorney's Office did and did not do to stop them,” the filing said.
“While the government's misconduct in this case is particularly egregious, it is unfortunately part of a trend in this district — the government has learned that it can strategically release information with impunity.”
In November, Cassie Ventura filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against Sean Combs, which was settled a day later. (Getty Images)
“At the beginning, the defense wants to explain to the Court what our theory is and what it is not. We do not claim that the leaks were orchestrated by the U.S. Attorney's Office. To the contrary, we allege that the false media statements and Grand Jury Leaks at issue in the complaint below were planned and executed by DHS. As the parties learn more about this issue, the Court will note that the defense repeatedly contacted prosecutors and essentially stated that their agents had leaked information to the press.
“However, regardless of what, if any, action the U.S. Attorney’s Office took, leaks continued even up to the point of arrest. The reason this hearing is necessary is to determine exactly what DHS did and did not do in connection with these leaks, and what the United States Attorney's Office did and did not do to stop them.”
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Sean Combs allegedly hired associates to help protect and promote Combs' enterprise. (Share Ziyadat)
Combs was arrested on September 16, and the next day he was charged with racketeering conspiracy; sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion; and transportation for the purposes of prostitution. The rapper pleaded not guilty hours after an indictment was released detailing his alleged sex crimes.
“The reason the hearing is necessary is to determine exactly what DHS did and did not do in connection with these leaks, and what the United States Attorney's Office did and did not do to stop them.”
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Authorities alleged that Combs ran, among other things criminal enterprise through his companies including Bad Boy Entertainment, Combs Enterprises and Combs Global, among others. He used “firearms, threats of violence and verbal, emotional, physical and sexual abuse” to satisfy his sexual desires, according to an unsealed indictment obtained by Fox News Digital.
Sean “Diddy” Combs pleaded not guilty last month and is scheduled to return to court on October 10. (Elizabeth Williams via AP)
Combs and his employees “intimidated, threatened, and lured female victims into Combs' orbit, often under the guise of a romantic relationship. Combs then allegedly used force, threats of force and coercion to induce the victims to engage in prolonged sexual acts with male prostitutes, whom Combs called, among other things, “freaks.” According to the indictment, Combs often provided his victims with intravenous fluids after “freaks” to recover from exercise and drug use.
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