Prosecutors have rejected Sean “Diddy” Combs’ claims that government agents leaked evidence to undermine his defense against criminal sex trafficking charges. In a federal court filing in Manhattan on Wednesday night, prosecutors stated that Combs is “grasping at straws” in his assertion of being victimized by leaks, including a 2016 hotel surveillance video showing him physically assaulting his former girlfriend, Casandra Ventura, known as Cassie.
Prosecutors argued that Combs failed to demonstrate any leaks from the grand jury investigating him and pointed out that he knows the “highly probative” video originated from another source. They dismissed his demand for a list of his accusers’ names as a “thinly veiled” attempt to derail the government’s case and assist him in responding publicly to civil lawsuits filed by over two dozen individuals alleging sexual misconduct.
“This improper request should be denied in its entirety, particularly given the serious and ongoing concerns about victim and witness safety, tampering, and intimidation,” prosecutors asserted.
Combs has pleaded not guilty to charges including racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution, and he has denied any wrongdoing in the civil lawsuits. Prosecutors noted that as his criminal trial approaches on May 5, 2025, he will receive substantial evidence, including a witness list.
A lawyer for Combs declined to comment on Thursday. Combs’ legal team has argued that the founder of Bad Boy Records should not have to “play a guessing game” while defending against what they describe as “baseless” claims from accusers, many of whom use pseudonyms and seek large settlements.
In the same filing, prosecutors stated that Combs’ request for a gag order against witnesses and lawyers had become moot, referencing an Oct. 25 order by U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian that required both sides to comply with local court rules.
On Wednesday, Combs’ effort to reveal the identities of his accusers gained momentum when U.S. District Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil ruled that a woman suing Combs over an alleged 2004 rape could not remain anonymous. Vyskocil highlighted Combs’ right to investigate the woman’s credibility and emphasized the public interest in open court proceedings. Other judges may adopt similar reasoning, based on a federal rule governing civil cases.
Combs faces ongoing legal troubles after his arrest on Sept. 16 and is appealing his lengthy detention at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center, where two detainees suffered fatal stabbings this year. He turns 55 on Monday.
