Why did Diddy propose a gag order in ongoing case? Judge rejects bid, but implements a similar order

A New York judge rejected Sean "Diddy" Combs' proposal to impose a gag order on government agencies involved in the investigation on Friday, October 25, 2024. USA Today, citing the order by Judge Arun Subramanian, explained that he denied proposals by the prosecution and defense but intsead implemented a similar order on both parties.

The order came after the rapper and his legal counsel blamed the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for "orchestrating" the leak of his ex, Cassie Ventura's 2016 assault tape, earlier this month. According to legal documents filed by the rapper's attorney on October 9, 2024, a DHS agent allegedly released the video with intent to:

"Mortally wound the reputation and the prospect of Sean Combs successfully defending himself against these allegations."

It further requested that the video be suppressed if there was evidence of a leak to ensure a fair trial. They are referencing the security footage from a hotel in Los Angeles (InterContinetal Hotel in Century City) released by CNN in May 2024. It showed Diddy kicking and dragging Cassie across a lobby.

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Judge Arun vowed to "take appropriate action" in case of leaks after Diddy's team called attention to an article with an alleged law enforcement source

Despite rejecting Diddy's proposal, Judge Arun implemented a similar order, asking both prosecution and defense to abide by the existing laws that prohibit lawyers, investigators, and government agents from revealing grand jury proceedings or non-public information that might impact a fair trial.

The publication quoting the judge wrote:

"To be clear, this order isn’t based on a finding that there has been any wrongdoing thus far, as the Court has made no findings at this juncture relating to defendant’s allegations that information related to the case has been leaked. The point of this order is to help ensure that nothing happens from now on that would interfere with a fair trial."

On Friday, Diddy's team brought the judge's attention to an article (published on the same day) by the New York Post that claimed that a federal agent had issued comments to them about the rapper's infamous "freak off" parties.

The Judge stated that if these comments were made by a law enforcement agent involved in the investigation or prosecution, they were "plainly improper." He added that the court would "take appropriate action" if any rules were violated.

The CNN CCTV footage corroborated claims made in Cassie's lawsuit filed in November 2023, accusing the music mogul of r*pe and violence. While the complaint was settled within a day, several others filed separate lawsuits against Diddy making similar claims.

This prompted federal authorities to launch an investigation into the rapper that saw his homes in Miami and Los Angeles raided. It led to Diddy's arrest in September on charges of racketeering, s*x trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution.

According to his indictment, the rapper ran a "criminal enterprise" that s*xually and physically abused "women and others." It alleged that the rapper misused his finances and status in the music industry to "fulfill his s*xual desires" in a "recurrent and widely known" pattern of abuse.

In their gag order proposal, Combs' lawyers claimed that government officials already had a "deplorable video recording" of their client. But rather than using it as "trial evidence alongside other evidence that gives it context and meaning" they "misused it in the most prejudicial and damaging way possible."

Combs, for his part, has denied all accusation levied against him. Per USA Today, while their client apologized for the Cassie video, his lawyers claim that the abuse was a result of a toxic relationship and not evidence of s*x trafficking.

Diddy is currently being held without bail. His trial is set to begin in May 2025.