Sean "Diddy" Combs, once a towering figure in the music industry, is now fighting back against what his legal team describes as a systematic campaign by federal authorities to tarnish his reputation ahead of his upcoming trial on serious charges, including sex trafficking, forced labor, and racketeering. In a scathing court filing submitted on Wednesday, Combs' attorneys accused federal agents of leaking damaging evidence to the media, notably a video showing Combs assaulting his then-girlfriend Cassie in 2016, in a bid to influence public perception and bias the jury pool.
In the motion, Combs' lawyer Marc Agnifilo argued that the government's actions amounted to a deliberate effort to undermine his client's right to a fair trial. "There has been a series of unlawful government leaks, which have led to damaging, highly prejudicial pre-trial publicity that can only taint the jury pool and deprive Mr. Combs of his right to a fair trial," Agnifilo stated. He described the release of the Cassie video as the "most egregious example" but claimed it was part of a broader pattern of leaks intended to sway public opinion against Combs.
The controversial video, which surfaced in May and was widely circulated by CNN, depicts Combs physically assaulting Cassie in the hallway of a hotel. Agnifilo claimed that the video was intentionally leaked to the media to inflict maximum damage to Combs' reputation rather than being used appropriately within the trial context. "The videotape was leaked to CNN for one reason alone: to mortally wound the reputation and the prospect of Sean Combs successfully defending himself against these allegations," he argued.
Combs, also known by his monikers Puff Daddy and P. Diddy, is currently being held without bail after being arrested on charges of sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, and racketeering. The indictment portrays Combs as the leader of a criminal enterprise that exploited women for sexual gratification and engaged in acts of violence and coercion to keep his victims silent. Prosecutors allege that Combs used his vast business empire to facilitate these criminal activities, orchestrating elaborate "freak offs" in which victims were allegedly drugged and coerced into sex with male sex workers.
Agnifilo's court filing goes beyond the allegations of the leaked video. It demands a full investigation into whether federal agents and prosecutors systematically leaked evidence to the media to manipulate public opinion. The defense also requested a hearing to seek out evidence of such leaks from prosecutors and law enforcement and to impose a gag order to prevent any further unauthorized disclosures.
The court filing pointed fingers specifically at the Department of Homeland Security for allegedly leaking grand jury information to create a hostile environment around Combs. According to Agnifilo, these leaks have led to "a steady stream of false and prejudicial statements" designed to escalate the public's animosity toward Combs even before the trial has begun. "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 leak information with impunity," he wrote.
Combs, who has pleaded not guilty to all charges, insists on a speedy trial, aiming for proceedings to begin in the spring of 2025. His defense team, including attorneys Marc Agnifilo and Teny Geragos, emphasized their intent to move forward with the trial as swiftly as possible. "Mr. Combs continues to assert his right to a speedy trial and intends to request a trial date in April or May 2025," the attorneys wrote in a letter to the judge. Prosecutors have yet to take a formal position on the trial date, leaving the decision at the discretion of the court.
The leaked video has already become a central piece of evidence in the case, with prosecutors alleging that Combs attempted to bribe a hotel security worker with a "stack of cash" to suppress the incident. Despite acknowledging the video and issuing an apology for his actions, Combs maintains that the media's portrayal of his case has been manipulated by federal authorities intent on convicting him in the court of public opinion.
In addition to the criminal charges, Combs is also facing several civil lawsuits from alleged victims of his alleged criminal activities. His legal troubles have sparked widespread debate about the role of media and law enforcement in high-profile cases, particularly when leaks can skew public perception before a trial begins.
Agnifilo's motion argues that this case exemplifies a troubling pattern of government overreach, where information leaks are used as a strategic tool to damage a defendant's reputation rather than presenting evidence solely in the courtroom. "Rather than using the videotape as trial evidence, alongside other evidence that gives it context and meaning, the agents misused it in the most prejudicial and damaging way possible," Agnifilo wrote.
