In an October 7, 2024, Instagram post from her Florida lawyer, Sean P Diddy Combs’ mother issued a heartfelt statement defending her son, which says in part:
Instagram post:
” … It is truly agonizing to watch the world turn against my son so quickly and easily over lies and misconceptions, without ever hearing his side or affording him the opportunity to present his side. These lies thrown at him are motivated by those seeking financial gain, and not justice … To make matters worse, the federal government is now using these lies to prosecute my son … My son is not the monster they have painted him out to be, and he deserves the chance to tell his side … “
Instagram, October 7, 2024, and in full below,
A sincere request by his mother and family, but in reality mother and family may not be witness to what really ‘goes on secretly between the sheets’ of a friend or loved one. Or, she may have significantly benefited from his money for decades and does not want to loose her expensive, privileged lifestyle and bottomless cash flow.
Predatory Carnal Monster?
Unfortunately, the defendant’s prior conduct (see the numerous civil lawsuits!), the details of the RICO indictment, and the pre-trial detention memo (ECF 005) paint a predatory carnal monster – in living color!!
Me Too !!
For our mothers, sisters and daughters, we would hope and pray that such serious allegations as presented against Sean Combs are a ‘one off’. Sadly, that is NOT the case as the convictions of Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein for rape and assault led to the hot geyser of abuse allegations that became the foundation of the ‘MeToo!’ movement. Since Weinstein, the New York Times profiled 71 more high profile men that have been fired or resigned. (After Weinstein: 71 Men Accused of Sexual Misconduct and Their Fall From Power, NYTimes Feb. 8, 2018).
There are too many other assault accusers (from 2018 to present) to list in this article, but the convictions and sentencing of rapper ‘R. Kelly’ for child pornography and sex trafficking in a 2021 New York case (30 years), and a 2023 Chicago case (20 years) are prescient. On Oct. 7, 2024, the US Supreme Court denied the R. Kelly request to overturn his Chicago federal court conviction. (Robert Sylvester Kelly, Petitioner v. The United States, U.S. Sup. Ct. Case No. 24-87). An ominous prediction to ‘P Diddy’.
The Federal Indictment in Southern District of New York
The Sept. 12, 2024, Grand Jury Indictment of defendant Sean Combs, aka “Puff Daddy”, aka “P. Diddy”, aka “Diddy”, aka “PD”, and aka “Love” enumerates Counts:
- Count One – Racketeering > Combs created ” … a criminal enterprise whose members and associates engaged in, and attempted to engage in, among other crimes, sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and obstruction of justice.” 18 USC 1961-1968;
- Count Two – Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud or Coercion re Victim-1 > the defendant recruited Victim-1 to engage in commercial sex acts as a result of force, fraud or coercion. 18 USC 1591(a)(1), (b)(1), 1594(a), and (2);
- Count Three – Transportation to engage in prostitution > the defendant transported female victims and commercial sex workers in interstate and foreign commerce on multiple occasions with the intent they engage in prostitution. 18 USC 2421(a) and 2;
- Demand of Forfeiture – the amount of money traceable to the commission of the offenses. 18 USC 981, 18 USC 1594, 18 USC 1963, 18 USC 2428, 21 USC 853 and 28 USC 2461;
The criminal indictment in the Southern District of New York has been docketed as follows: United states v. Sean Combs aka “Puff Daddy”, aka “P. Diddy”, aka “Diddy”, aka “PD”, and aka “Love”, 24-cr-00542 SDNY.
These Indictment allegations are just the ‘bare bones’ of the detail needed to get an initial indictment handed down from a Grand Jury. The greatest amount of detail to date was contained in the Sept. 17, 2024, Memorandum of the Attorney General (ECF 005) in opposition to the defendant being released from pre-trial detention.
Release or Pre-Trial Detention
$50 Million Bond to Guarantee His Release
On Sept. 17, 2024, the defendant submitted a proposed $50M bail bond package (ECF 008) citing his cooperation in turning himself in, surrendering his passport, etc. The same day the AG submitted his pre-trial detention memorandum to the Court (ECF 005) and argued that the defendant presented a danger to victims and others, both through physical violence and through obstructive conduct and was a flight risk. After lengthy arguments to the bench, the judge decided to reject the proposed $50M bail bond and ordered the defendant to detention. On Sept. 18, 2024, the defendant again requested release from detention and submitted an updated memorandum to the court (ECF 013).
US Opposition to Release of Combs
Similarly, the AG submitted a memo in opposition to release (ECF 015), and on page 3 states:
“The Government’s evidence to date—including the defendant’s own communications—demonstrates that the defendant has used force and coercion against multiple victims. In addition to these women, the defendant has assaulted a host of other individuals,including his employees and witnesses to his violence. For example, the defendant directed his rage toward his employees and those close to Victim-1 who had seen him physically abuse Victim-1, including by throwing these witnesses against walls and onto the ground, choking them, and throwing objects at them, among other things, particularly when they attempted to protect Victim-1.In doing so, the defendant has demonstrated that he is not only a danger to victims and witnesses but is also obstructive and willing to engage whatever is necessary—including physical violence—to instill fear in witnesses to keep them silent. All of this violence, against victims, witnesses, and others, factors into the analysis of the defendant’s dangerousness.”
However, the request for reconsideration by the defendant was not successful, and the defendant remained in pre-trial detention:
On Oct. 10, 2024 the Court continued the detention of Combs in jail.
Local Criminal Rule 23.1 – Extrajudicial Statements
Pursuant to the SDNY Local Criminal Rule 23.1, the on October 20, 2024, the defendant filed a motion (ECF 042) for an order restricting parties and witnesses from making statements to the press outside of court that would prejudice Combs’ right to a fair trial.
Combs Appeal to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals
In the meantime, the defendant has appealed the Sept. 18, 2024, trial court detention order to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals:
The Second Circuit Court of Appeals has the matter docketed as Case No. 24-2606.
Conclusion
At this time, there two major issues for the defendant in the courts:
(1) In the trial court, the next status conference is scheduled for October 10, 2024. Even though he has had two bites at the bail apple, it is not clear from the record whether the defendant will once again file a motion for release from detention. Usually, since he has filed an appeal, the next conference will start the trial scheduling.
(2) In the 2nd Circuit of Appeals, the defendant will have to wait in his cell as his case in put in the appeals court cue with the hundreds of other cases on their docket. He was denied bail twice at the trial court, and by different judges. With the strength of evidence gathered by the AG, I do not anticipate the appeals court overturning the pre-trial detention.
Editor’s Note >
This article will be updated periodically with significant new developments.
