Sean "Diddy" Combs' legal team has filed a sweeping motion to suppress evidence gathered by federal agents who raided the hip-hop mogul's residences in Los Angeles and Miami. In the filings, defense attorneys allege that authorities "made false statements and omitted exculpatory evidence" in seeking the search warrants for Combs, 55, who is awaiting trial on multiple charges including sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, and transportation to engage in prostitution. According to court documents, lawyers claim the government's application was "intentional, or at the very least reckless," and violated Combs' Fourth Amendment rights.
The legal motion, submitted Sunday in the Southern District of New York, maintains that officials "presented a grossly distorted picture of the facts" when requesting authorization to search Combs' homes and online history. Defense attorneys further contend that in their probable cause statements, "The probable cause statements were intentionally misleading," a move that allegedly allowed federal agents to obtain and leak damaging evidence before orchestrating "military-style raids." They claim that "Through this duplicity, the government obtained evidence - including multiple electronic devices with an enormous amount of information about his entire life - and an enormous and unfair tactical advantage."
Prosecutors revealed last month that the raids uncovered more than 1,000 bottles of baby oil, unmarked AR-15s, and ammunition, alongside digital files labeled "freak-offs" containing videos and images. Court documents described "freak-offs" as extended sex performances involving Combs, women, and male commercial sex workers. Officials charge that some individuals were transported across state lines, and "the indictment alleges that between at least 2008 and the present, Combs abused, threatened and coerced victims to fulfill his sexual desires, protect his reputation, and conceal his conduct." Federal investigators also seized footage of alleged multi-day parties that, according to the indictment, involved narcotics "which Combs distributed to the victims to keep them obedient and compliant."
Combs has been detained at a federal facility since his arrest on September 17. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges. In a separate courtroom incident, prosecutors reportedly obtained 19 pages of Combs' handwritten notes during a cell sweep, a disclosure that sparked fierce objections from his defense. Attorney Marc Agnifilo labeled the seizure "a complete institutional failure," asserting the collected material contained privileged legal strategies. Judge Arun Subramanian later ordered prosecutors to delete all copies of Combs' notes.
The high-profile searches of Combs' properties in Miami and Los Angeles occurred earlier this year under the direction of Homeland Security Investigations. Authorities removed computer hard drives, surveillance footage, and other items. Defense attorneys insist that the government knew of at least one alleged victim's financial motive "to make false accusations" and deliberately omitted such details when seeking warrants.
Combs' trial date is set for May, and his team remains locked in a procedural battle on multiple fronts. Most recently, prominent defense lawyer Anthony Ricco stepped down from the case. In a motion filed Thursday, Ricco said, "under no circumstances can I continue to effectively serve as counsel for Sean Combs." He offered no detailed explanation for the decision, noting only that the switch would not cause any delay in the upcoming trial schedule.
Sources familiar with the investigation indicate that the government has been building its case against Combs for several years, collecting testimonies and alleged evidence of what they describe as an organized ring of forced prostitution. According to U.S. Attorney Damian Williams, "The indictment alleges that Combs used and exploited women and other people for years, and in a variety of ways." Court documents say the arrangement often involved the distribution of substances such as GHB, ketamine, and ecstasy.
Defense motions argue the government's case hinges on "intentionally misleading" narratives and note that Combs vehemently denies orchestrating any such exploitation. While prosecutors claim to have substantial digital evidence, Combs' lawyers maintain much of it lacks context and was seized after officials allegedly misled the court. Legal analysts believe the defense's motion to suppress could hinge on the judge's assessment of how the warrants were obtained and whether there were indeed misrepresentations.
A central theme in Combs' attorneys' argument is that authorities "hid the alleged victims' financial motivations for making their accusations," suggesting a broader conspiracy by those individuals to obtain payouts or settlements. In response, prosecutors have stated that the search warrants were granted based on credible sources and that any mention of alleged blackmail or profiteering schemes would be addressed at trial.
The scope of the government's evidence remains enormous, including countless files recovered from electronic devices. As both sides prepare for what could be a lengthy courtroom showdown, Combs' counsel emphasizes that the alleged "gross distortions" used to secure the warrants render the search and its fruits invalid. Observers note this legal challenge represents a major test of how federal agencies compile evidence in high-profile cases involving potential celebrity defendants.
- Key Case Facts:
- Charges: Racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution.
- Evidence Seized: 1,000+ bottles of baby oil, AR-15s, "freak-off" footage.
- Defense Argument: Warrant applications contained "intentionally misleading" information.
- Trial Date: May (no delays currently anticipated).
