Federal prosecutors for now gained’t be capable of use a pocket book from Sean “Diddy” Combs’ jail cell through which the disgraced hip-hop mogul allegedly wrote that discovering “dirt” on two of his alleged victims was amongst his “things to do,” a decide dominated Tuesday.
The disgraced music mogul, who was sporting a jail-issued tan shirt and pants, notched a small authorized win when the decide ordered the Manhattan US Legal professional’s Workplace to delete images of the 19 pages within the rapper’s pocket book following a raid on his cell final month.
The fabric can also’t be utilized by prosecutors throughout one other bond listening to for Combs, 55, on Friday, US District Decide Arun Subramanian decided.
The authorized workforce for Combs, who’s dealing with intercourse trafficking and racketeering prices, argued that the feds overstepped their authority once they seized the fabric from Combs in October, which the US Legal professional’s Workplace has stated was throughout a broad sweep of the Metropolitan Detention Middle.
One in all Combs’ legal professionals, Marc Agnifilo, referred to as the feds’ conduct “outrageous” and claimed their actions violated attorney-client privilege throughout the listening to.
“This has been a complete institutional failure,” Agnifilo stated.
However prosecutor Mary Slavik stated the federal government obtained the notes as a part of the Justice Division’s ongoing investigation into alleged obstruction of justice by Combs, which might result in extra prices in opposition to him.
“The government received these materials in the completely appropriate channels,” she stated.
She stated the pocket book was labeled “things to do” and featured notes by Combs about paying off potential witnesses and digging up filth on them and two alleged victims, which might scrap attorney-client safety claims.
The pocket book additionally included unidentified “inspirational quotes,” the feds stated.
Subramanian stated for now he’s stashing a duplicate of the notes till he decides if prosecutors can use them to construct an obstruction case in opposition to the “All About The Benjamins” rapper.
The “I’ll Be Missing You” singer was arrested in September and hit with racketeering conspiracy, intercourse trafficking and transportation to interact in prostitution prices. He has pleaded not responsible.
He has since languished within the hellish detention heart in Brooklyn forward of trial regardless of his legal professionals trying to get him out on bail quite a few instances. Combs can be dealing with an avalanche of civil fits filed in current months.
One other listening to on his bail software is ready for Friday. The movie star seeks to be launched on $50 million bail, however prosecutors have argued he might doubtlessly tamper with witnesses if launched.
With Publish wires
