As jury selection looms in the federal sex trafficking trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs, the rapper's legal team has asked a judge to impose a gag order on attorneys representing his alleged victims, citing concerns about prejudicial media coverage. The request, filed on April 28 in U.S. District Court, specifically targets outspoken attorneys Douglas Wigdor and Lisa Bloom.
In their letter to U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian, Combs' defense lawyers argued that the ongoing public commentary by opposing counsel threatens the integrity of the upcoming trial. "Absent a Court order, we expect the publicity to not only continue, but escalate as trial commences," the attorneys wrote. "Indeed in recent weeks, lawyers for government witnesses have commented on pretrial litigation and continued to broadcast prejudicial statements."
The filing singles out Wigdor, who represents Combs' ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura. Wigdor previously made public remarks regarding surveillance footage from a 2016 incident in which Combs allegedly dragged Ventura by the hair through a Los Angeles hotel hallway. The defense has attempted to block the video from being shown to jurors, claiming it was "edited" and "manipulated," but the judge ruled it admissible.
Wigdor responded to the gag order motion in a statement to DailyMail.com: "We will vigorously oppose the motion seeking an extraordinary sweeping gag order as it is an obvious attempt at controlling and silencing victims and their counsel in contravention of well-established legal and ethical precedent."
Combs' legal team also called out attorney Lisa Bloom, who represents two alleged victims, including singer Dawn Richard and an anonymous plaintiff identified in court as John Doe. Bloom has publicly claimed that Richard, a former member of Danity Kane, is in fear for her life and filed a civil lawsuit alleging sexual assault, coercion, and unpaid labor.
John Doe alleges that Combs sexually exploited him over a five-year period beginning in 2007, following an initial meeting at a Las Vegas hotel where he was hired to perform a strip show. The complaint claims he was drugged with baby oil, coerced into sexual activity, and later subjected to psychological manipulation, blackmail, and surveillance.
In a separate statement issued Tuesday, Bloom responded to the defense team's motion: "How hypocritical that Mr. Combs and his attorneys, having made public statements many times, now want to silence me. Accusers and their attorneys have every right to speak out."
Federal prosecutors recently filed a third superseding indictment against Combs, adding new charges of sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. The 55-year-old music mogul faces accusations of leading a criminal enterprise from 2004 to 2024 that facilitated the abuse and trafficking of women using his entertainment businesses as conduits.
Combs has denied all allegations. His defense has argued that the relationships in question were consensual and described him as a swinger who hosted what prosecutors call drug-fueled "freak offs."
Combs remains in custody at a Brooklyn detention center. Jury selection is scheduled to begin on May 5.
