Sean "Diddy," the hip-hop mogul's legal team, is mounting a strong defense against the government's case, arguing federal agents misled the court when they secured search warrants that led to the raiding of his homes. And at the center of it all? A collection of so-called "freak-off" tapes, which his lawyers assert were already in government custody before the raids took place.
In a motion filed recently, lawyers for Diddy say that federal prosecutors presented a "grossly distorted" view of the actual world to obtain the ability to search his residences, electronic devices, and even his person. Key evidence such as text messages exchanged between Diddy and the alleged victims was excluded from the warrant applications, which resulted in a distorted presentation of the facts that favored the prosecution's narrative, his legal team said in a statement.
"The government possessed, for instance, ample evidence … supporting the conclusion that Victim-1's involvement in the alleged 'freak-offs' (FOs) was consensual and voluntary, not coerced as the government alleged," attorney Alexandra A.E. Shapiro wrote in the motion.
The raids, in which federal agents stormed Diddy's properties with what his lawyers said were "military-style" tactics, sprang from an ongoing investigation into claims of sex trafficking, RICO violations, and obstruction of justice. Did Bombardier's representation of prosecutors explain why Diddy alone ran an underworld criminal organization based on drugs, illegal activities, and maneuvers to silence potential witnesses?
But Diddy's legal representation isn't just fighting back. They're also seeking a Franks hearing, a legal event that could undermine the validity of the search warrants. Suppose they can show that the government knowingly misled the judge by withholding critical facts. In that case, any evidence from those warrants might be excluded, which would severely blow the prosecution's case before his May 2025 trial.
"The warrant applications were 'calculated to mislead,' omitting 'clearly critical' evidence," Shapiro said, doubling on accusations that the government cherry-picked information to build its case against the Bad Boy Records founder.
Prosecutors say they are damning evidence of sex trafficking, but Diddy's lawyers say the government had them long before the raids. Why were federal agents aggressive about pressing for the searches if that's the case?
In a further twist to the fight, Diddy's lawyers are claiming that prosecutors have acted in a "pervasive manner" to ignore evidence that would undermine their case, especially any suggestion that purported victims might have financial incentives to inflate or false their allegations.
"The government concealed evidence that undermined these witnesses' credibility," Shapiro argued while asserting that much of the prosecution's case relies on out-of-context comments and tactical leaks intended to dirty up Diddy in the court of public opinion.
As for the alleged witness tampering, the government points out that Diddy has a demonstrated history of such to the extent of reportedly using the phone privileges of other inmates and controlling their social media. If that's not witness tampering, I don't know what is. A judge has rejected a request to set his bail at $50 million, saying he could interfere with the case if released.
With the court still deciding whether to grant a Franks hearing or suppress evidence from the searches, Diddy's legal battles are far from finished. If his team prevails, the government's case could suffer a significant blow, potentially changing the dynamic of what is shaping into one of the most high-profile legal battles in recent memory.
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