Sean "Diddy" Combs' legal team is accusing federal prosecutors of violating his constitutional rights after privileged legal documents were reportedly seized from his jail cell during a surprise raid. Diddy's attorneys have argued that the materials, which include critical trial strategy notes, were taken under pretext, fueling a new legal battle over the alleged breach.
The allegations were raised by Diddy's attorney, Marc Agnifilo, who claims federal authorities confiscated and photographed 19 pages of material, including 11 pages of trial strategy notes and attorney correspondence, according to TMZ. Agnifilo contends that "prosecutors are now in possession of materials they have no legal right to possess," stating that these notes detailed conversations with Diddy's legal team, potential defense witnesses, and cross-examination strategies.
"Once they got them [photos of the documents], the first thing they did was use them," Agnifilo asserted, alleging that prosecutors referenced the materials in a recent bail filing aimed at keeping the music mogul incarcerated.
The controversy centers around a raid conducted at the Metropolitan Detention Center in New York, where Diddy has been detained since his September indictment on charges of racketeering, sex trafficking, and transportation for the purpose of prostitution. Unlike most inmates, Diddy is housed in the special housing unit due to heightened security concerns. However, this did not shield him from the federal sweep, which, according to Agnifilo, was a targeted operation disguised as a broader facility-wide action.
In response, federal prosecutors have maintained that they followed legal protocols during the search. In court documents, they indicated that a "filter team" was assigned to handle any potentially privileged material seized. The prosecution further claimed that a manila folder labeled "legal" was not opened, emphasizing that any actions taken were within the scope of a routine sweep.
Agnifilo disputes this narrative, asserting that Diddy's calls were being monitored and that the raid was orchestrated to seize specific documents. "This was an illegal raid that violates Mr. Combs' constitutional right against unlawful searches and seizures," he stated.
Diddy's legal team is now requesting an evidentiary hearing to scrutinize the government's actions, demanding answers on who authorized the search, how the materials were handled, and why the defendant was not informed. They argue the seizure constitutes a violation of Diddy's Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Amendment rights, alleging "outrageous government conduct" that undermines due process.
This legal clash unfolds as Diddy continues to fight for release from detention. His attorneys recently filed a fourth bail request, proposing a substantial bond package, including a $50 million bond secured by his and his mother's Florida properties, 24/7 monitoring by security personnel, restricted communications, and no access to the internet outside of meetings with legal counsel. Despite these measures, federal prosecutors have opposed the request, citing Diddy's alleged attempts to influence the case from behind bars.
According to court filings, prosecutors have accused Diddy of using unauthorized communication methods, including making calls through other inmates' accounts to evade monitoring and contacting individuals not on his approved list. They argue that his actions pose a "serious risk of obstruction, danger, and flight."
Prosecutors claim Diddy sought to "corruptly influence" his trial by using these methods and orchestrating media campaigns to sway public opinion. The rapper allegedly utilized payment processing apps and commissary account deposits to pay for access to other inmates' telephone accounts, enabling him to conduct unmonitored communications. Additionally, court documents suggest that Diddy orchestrated three-way calls to conceal the identities of individuals involved in these conversations.
