It’s virtually time for a Unhealthy Boy mogul to face the music.

Sean “Diddy” Combs is days away from going through what will be the most consequential authorized battle of his profession. Jury choice for his federal intercourse trafficking trial is ready to start on Might 5, and the rapper and music mogul is doing all the things in his energy to guard his popularity and preserve his innocence amid a wave of great allegations starting from sexual assault and coercion to drugging, racketeering, and compelled labor.

Diddy is pushing the courtroom to exclude new proof associated to his infamous “freak-off” events from being offered at trial, whereas additionally urging the choose to impose a gag order on alleged victims forward of proceedings. Including to the controversy, the rapper claimed that a few of his previous misconduct was resulting from psychological well being points.

The Court docket Denied Diddy’s Request To Block New “Freak-Off” Proof From Being Reviewed Throughout Trial

On the heart of the pretrial chaos is Diddy’s try to dam prosecutors from introducing new proof tied to his notorious “freak-off” events, alleged non-public occasions described by victims as settings for abuse and exploitation. On April 25, U.S. District Choose Arun Subramanian denied a request from Diddy’s authorized group to seal proof associated to the freaky occasions, in keeping with courtroom paperwork obtained by Folks. Notably, whereas the intercourse trafficking-related proof will likely be admitted, claims involving compelled labor from a former worker won’t be permitted in the course of the trial.

Diddy’s attorneys argue that prosecutors unfairly launched “new theories” and “new proof” concerning the freak-offs with out giving the protection ample time to reply. They claimed that even the prosecution has admitted a number of the sexual exercise was “consensual,” and that the protection is now compelled to focus solely on allegations of coercion. Nonetheless, prosecutors pushed again in a letter filed April 26, calling the 55-year-old rapper’s request “yet one more pretextual try and exclude highly effective proof in opposition to him and not using a correct authorized foundation.”

Protection Claims Diddy’s Psychological Well being Was Compromised At The Time Of His Alleged Crimes

In a shocking twist, Diddy’s authorized group seems to be making ready a protection based mostly on his alleged diminished psychological capability. In keeping with courtroom paperwork obtained by TMZ, legal professionals for the “Final Night time” hitmaker are gearing as much as current knowledgeable testimony from a Columbia College professor claiming that Diddy was affected by a “psychological situation” on the time of the alleged crimes. Whereas the specifics of the situation are redacted, prosecutors be aware the protection is tied to Diddy’s alleged historical past of substance abuse, together with drug and alcohol use, that will have impaired his reminiscence or judgment.

Prosecutors are already pushing to dam this testimony, arguing that the proposed knowledgeable by no means examined Diddy personally and that his opinion on Diddy’s way of thinking is speculative and legally irrelevant. Additionally they level out the irony within the declare: whereas Diddy is accused of drugging his victims to exert management, he might now argue that he himself was not totally in management resulting from intoxication.

Diddy Desires A Gag Order In Place To Forestall Media Affect

In one other authorized maneuver, Diddy’s legal professionals have requested the choose to impose a gag order on attorneys representing alleged victims, citing considerations over prejudicial media protection that might sway the jury. In keeping with Every day Mail, in a letter filed Tuesday, his authorized group accused attorneys—particularly Douglas Wigdor, who represents Combs’ ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura—of deliberately tainting the jury pool by making inflammatory public feedback. The protection cited Wigdor’s remarks a few 2016 surveillance video displaying Diddy dragging Ventura by the hair, which will likely be admitted as proof regardless of the protection’s declare that the footage was “edited” and “manipulated.”

In March, Wigdor pushed again in opposition to Diddy’s claims, telling Every day Mail that the video footage “pretty and precisely represents what occurred” to Cassie and that Combs must be “held accountable for his depravity.”

Wigdor has reportedly dismissed the gag order request and he intends to file a proper response.

“We are going to vigorously oppose the movement searching for a unprecedented sweeping gag order as it’s an apparent try at controlling and silencing victims and their counsel in contravention of well-established authorized and moral precedent,” Wigdor penned in a current e-mail to Every day Mail. “Given this, it ought to come as no shock that Combs fails to quote even one case to assist his request.” 

As beforehand reported, prosecutors lately supplied Combs a plea deal, however he declined, opting as an alternative to proceed with the trial. With jury choice simply across the nook, the courtroom seems more and more skeptical of the protection’s last-minute methods. From controversial claims of psychological incapacity to makes an attempt at silencing victims’ authorized groups, Diddy’s sex-trafficking trial is already shaping as much as be one of the crucial intently watched superstar circumstances lately. 

What do you consider these newest makes an attempt made by the hip-hop mogul?