Notes taken from Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ jail cell included “inspirational quotes” and reminders about family members birthdays, according to prosecutors.
The 55-year-old rapper is currently being held in the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn after being arrested on charges including sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has vehemently denied all allegations against him and pleaded not guilty in court.
Combs’ attorney Marc Agnifilo alleged in a letter to Judge Arun Subramanian that a raid of his client’s cell led to the US Attorney’s Office gaining access to attorney-client privileged materials. However, prosecutors argued the material was not bound by attorney-client privilege during an emergency hearing at a federal court in Manhattan on Tuesday.
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They claimed that among the notes, they allegedly retrieved “inspirational quotes” and birthday reminders. They argued the notebook they viewed was labeled “Things to Do” and was not marked as privileged.
At the hearing, lawyers argued whether the labeling of notebooks, which were photographed by workers from the Bureau of Prisons in the music moguls cell, were relevant. Judge Subramanian ultimately ordered prosecutors to destroy 20 pages of material they obtained during the search.
Agnifilo had explained during the hearing, “When we visit [Combs] in jail, we have lists. Everything in these pads are things we discuss; trial strategy, who we should speak to to undermine a witness credibility. We discuss everything with Mr. Combs.”
Prosecutors previously claimed the search “was planned well in advance of the defendants arrest, and was not conducted to target any particular inmate, including the defendant.” They also claimed “no physical materials were seized from the defendant.”
However, the court found prosecutors to be in possession of 20 pages of material. “We are not required to notify the defense of our ongoing investigation of criminal conduct, Assistant US Attorney Christine Slavik said. We received these materials in an appropriate channel. Whenever we get new information, if theres reason to believe theres privilege, it goes to the filter team.
Judge Subramanian ruled the material cannot be used at Diddy’s upcoming bail hearing. Combs has previously been denied bail and is currently being kept at the MDC until his trial, which is due to begin in May 2025. The Mirror US has approached Combs’ attorneys for further comment.
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