Sean “Diddy” Combs’ legal team is trying to do everything they can to level the playing field before going to trial next year.
Source: ANGELA WEISS / Getty
Attorneys for the disgraced music mogul have complained to a judge about “improper pretrial publicity,” asking for an order to keep potential witnesses quiet.
According to reports from ABC News, Combs’ attorneys, Marc Agnifilo and Teny Geragos, submitted a letter to the judge saying that statements by certain individuals are “undermining Mr. Combs’ right to a fair trial and the integrity of the grand jury proceedings.” This came following grand jury testimony by a producer who claimed to have been in possession of a videotape of Combs sexually assaulting celebrities.
“These stories have spread rapidly through the media and created the impression that such videos exist, which is false, and that the government is actually crediting his sensational claims, which is profoundly prejudicial,” the letter said, according to the outlet.
Because of their claims, the defense is asking for a court order gagging potential witnesses and their attorneys.
Combs is currently in prison on charges of racketeering, sex trafficking by force, and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty to a three-count federal indictment, and his legal team has denied that he sexually assaulted any of his civil accusers.
On Monday, Nov. 4, the Bad Boy founder is celebrating his 55th birthday from his jail cell. According to reports from People, for his big day, Combs will have access to fruit, oatmeal, whole wheat bread, biscuits, “oven brown potatoes” and spreads like jelly and margarine for breakfast. The Federal Bureau of Prisons’ national menu also shows that every day at breakfast, inmates can have “breakfast cake,” but that’s not specific to Diddy’s birthday.
The rapper won’t be able to have coffee, which is only served on the weekend.
Monday lunch mains can include Southwest chicken wraps, chicken tacos, cheese pizza or three-bean chili. Inmates also have access to several sides like green beans, rice, salsa or cole slaw. Lunch comes with fruit every day and dessert on some days, but Monday is not one of them, so Combs is out of luck.
Monday dinner menus include spreads like turkey roast, rice, green peas, gravy, whole wheat bread and beverage, and chicken or tofu fried rice, black beans, carrots, whole wheat bread and beverage. Dessert is not served with dinners, either.
Just last month, Agnifilo told reporters that the food options are one of the most difficult parts of his being behind bars.
“I think the food’s probably the roughest part of it,” Agnifilo said outside of a federal courthouse in Manhattan.
Combs’ trial date is set for May 5, 2025.
