Sean “Diddy” Combs is facing allegations of attempting to tamper with witness testimony ahead of his sex trafficking trial.
Prosecutors claim the music mogul has violated prison regulations by contacting witnesses indirectly, using other inmates’ phone accounts and engaging in three-way calls to speak to individuals outside his approved contact list.
In a court filing, prosecutors alleged that Combs directed his family to contact witnesses and orchestrated social media posts to influence public opinion.
They accused him of working with a woman referred to as “witness two” to draft a public statement countering allegations made by singer Dawn Richard in a civil lawsuit, suggesting the witness may have been paid for her statement.
Prosecutors also highlighted a video shared by Combs’ children on November 5, showing them wishing him a happy birthday during a prison call.
They claim Combs monitored audience engagement with the video to gauge its influence on potential jurors.
Combs, 55, is being held in custody in Manhattan, where he has pleaded not guilty to charges of sex trafficking and racketeering.
Denied bail multiple times due to concerns of witness tampering, his legal team recently proposed a $50 million bail package, including house arrest with 24-hour private security monitoring.
Defense attorney Alexandra Shapiro argued that Combs’ detention is hindering his ability to prepare for trial, citing limited access to case materials and frequent lockdowns at the Metropolitan Detention Center.
Prosecutors, however, maintain that Combs poses a significant risk to the trial, describing him as a “relentless” orchestrator of schemes to influence witnesses.
Combs’ legal troubles began in November 2023, when his ex-partner Cassandra “Cassie” Ventura filed a civil lawsuit alleging years of abuse, including rape and physical assault.
While the case was settled out of court, it triggered a federal investigation and multiple allegations of sexual misconduct.
Combs was arrested in September 2024 and charged with three counts of sex trafficking and racketeering, alongside over two dozen civil lawsuits accusing him of sexual assault, rape, and exploitation.
Combs has denied all criminal charges and civil allegations, asserting that any sexual encounters were consensual.
In a related case, Texas attorney Tony Buzbee, who has represented more than 120 individuals filing lawsuits against Combs, is facing accusations of extortion.
An unnamed plaintiff, identifying as a former associate of Combs, claims Buzbee fabricated allegations to pressure for payments.
Buzbee has denied the allegations, calling the lawsuit a baseless attempt to silence him and his clients.
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