Battling hip-hop mogul’s lawyer Sean “Daddy” Coombs Defended his right to describe the federal sex-trafficking case against his client as “racist” in a court filing Monday as he asks the court to grant him bail so he can stay out of jail while awaiting trial. can go home
“He has a right to a fair trial and a constitutional right to speak for himself,” Coombs’ defense wrote in a letter to Judge Arun Subramaniam. “The government’s arguments that he asked his children to post birthday wishes on Instagram and that he is not entitled to publicly express his opinion that the prosecution is racially motivated is an unconstitutional attempt to silence him. “
The case against Combs is being overseen by U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damien Williams, a Biden-Harris administration appointee who is stepping down on Dec. 13 ahead of his expected replacement under the Trump administration.
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Sean “Daddy” Combs attends a ceremony honoring him with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Hollywood Boulevard on May 2, 2008 in Hollywood, California. (Vince Buckey/Getty Images)
Prosecutors raised the issue of Combs’ use of a banned app from within to communicate with the outside world. He allegedly used the phones of other inmates to contact friends and family in an influence peddling campaign and posted birthday greetings videos on his Instagram account, which is now controlled by his sons, who I spoke to him on the phone from the lockup.
He is accused of obstructing, encouraging witnesses and subordinates, and having a long history of abusing both sexual partners and personal staff, according to court documents.
Prosecutors allege that “the former staff members threatened to kill defendant, threw objects at him, and witnessed defendant hitting, punching, and shoving him and doing the same to others.” What is stated.” “This significant history of violence must be kept in mind when considering defendant’s disruptive activity. Taken together, there can be no doubt that the government established by clear and convincing evidence that defendant was dangerous. has proven.”
Read Daddy’s Defense letter:
Combs and his supporters have played the race card before. When Homeland Security agents raided his mansions in Miami and Los Angeles in March, his ex Misa Hilton posted a now-deleted post on Instagram that Home surveillance video shows armed agents arresting her son, who has not been charged with any crime.
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United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York Damien Williams speaks to the media outside Manhattan federal court on July 16, 2024 in New York City. (Adam Gray/Getty Images)
“The use of high spirited (sic) and clearly military force against my sons Justin and Christian is deplorable,” Helton wrote. “If these were the sons of a non-black celebrity, they wouldn’t have had this kind of aggression.”
In a messy breakup with liquor giant Diageo, which acquired full ownership of Ciroc vodka and DeLeon tequila, Combs blamed the company for Of racism and claimed that he marketed these brands to “urban” consumers because Combs is black.
Read the prosecution’s opposition letter:
Watch on Fox Nation: What Happened?
Diageo dismissed the allegations as “false and reckless” and eventually dropped its lawsuit against the company in January. The parties also severed all commercial ties.
The race card emerged in his federal criminal trial after his lawyers accused federal investigators of leaking sealed details of the investigation to reporters. Prosecutors responded that Combs’ attorney, Mark Agnifilo told TMZ said in a television interview that it was his opinion that Williams’ office was working to “remove a successful black man.”
Sean Combs holds a bottle of Ciroc vodka while attending the “Sean Combs 50th Birthday Bash presented by Ciroc Vodka” on December 14, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Sean Coombs)
A spokesman for Combs did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday.
Williams, who was already scheduled to step down in January, announced his resignation on Monday, effective in mid-December.
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President-elect Donald Trump has already nominated Williams’ successor, former Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Jay Clayton.
Coombs’ trial on sex trafficking and fraud charges is expected to begin on May 5, 2025.
Currently, his third bail attempt is pending in court. Federal prosecutors are asking a judge to keep Combs behind bars, arguing that he would be a danger to witnesses and victims if released on parole.
They believe he is already trying to influence witnesses from behind bars, allegedly contacting them through third parties.
Both sides were in court Friday for Coombs’ third bail hearing, but the judge did not make a ruling. He asked attorneys for the government and Combs to submit “brief letters” in support of their position by Monday afternoon. Coombs’ attorneys later complained that the government’s 13-page letter was too long and regurgitated old claims. His letter was eight pages long.
WATCH: Sean ‘Daddy’ Combs Attacks Casey in 2016 Hotel Video
Combs’ trafficking investigation began in November 2023, when his ex-girlfriend Cassandra “Casey” Ventura filed a lawsuit alleging abuse and other wrongdoing.
They settled a day later, and he denied the allegations, but earlier this year A video came out Which appears to back up the violent claim in her lawsuit – that he assaulted her in a hotel hallway.
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“Mr Coombs became extremely intoxicated and punched Ms Ventura in the face. A black eyeHis lawyers charged.
Over the past year, new accusers have come forward, and Texas attorney Tony Busby said in October that he now represents more than 100 people who want to sue the rapper.
He has been accused of raping and sexually assaulting adults and children at parties, some of which allegedly included the companions of an unidentified “celebrity”.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or visit rainn.org.