A judge overseeing the criminal prosecution of disgraced music mogul Sean ‘Diddy Combs has rejected the alleged sexual trafficker’s calls for a suppression order on the details of his case.
On Friday, New York judge Arun Subramanian responded to the request for a gag order that was lodged by Combs’ lawyers.
If passed, the order would see that government officials were prohibited from leaking any information to the media about Combs’ sex trafficking and racketeering charges.
According to court documents obtained by Page Six, Subramanian declined the gag order request from the 54-year-old’s lawyers, however, he still applied an order to protect the trial’s fairness.
This gag order differs from the one requested by Combs’ team in that it would forbid federal agents, investigators, and Diddy’s representatives from leaking information that would impact the grand jury proceedings.
“To be clear, this order isn’t based on a finding that there has been any wrongdoing thus far, as the Court has made no findings at this juncture relating to the defendant’s allegations that information related to the case has been leaked,” the judge stated.
He later added that there will be consequences for breaching the order, stating: “The Court will take appropriate action for any violation of the rules.”
Why is a gag order needed on Sean Combs’ trial?
Sean Combs is accused of racketeering, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution, and was arrested on September 16 after lengthy investigations by the FBI. He denies the charges against him.
In order for a fair trial, the judge must ensure that the potential jurors are not swayed by leaks that may incline them to give the rapper a guilty verdict.
Combs’ legal team accused federal investigators of attempting to do this back in May this year when footage of him attacking his former girlfriend, Cassandra “Cassie” Ventura, in a hotel was released on CNN.
The lawyers argued that the feds leaked the footage to damage Combs’ chance of being acquitted in future cases.
“Rather than using the videotape as trial evidence, alongside other evidence that gives it context and meaning, the agents misused it in the most prejudicial and damaging way possible,” Combs’ lawyers wrote, per Page Six.
Though the FBI denied leaking the clip, Judge Subramanian applied a suppression order to prevent any further leaks regarding allegations against Sean Combs.
“The point of this order is to help ensure that nothing happens from now on that would interfere with a fair trial,” he wrote on Friday.
Sean Combs is currently being held at a detention centre in New York, where he awaits trial.
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