"Should not be permitted to pollute the trial..." - Why Diddy's lawyers think s*xual assault allegations shouldn't be allowed at trial

Sean "Diddy" Combs whose trial is set to start on May 5, has made a new filing through his lawyer. In a new statement obtained by People Magazine, the defense requests that the civil charges of alleged s*xual assault should not be included in the federal criminal trial. A part of the statement reads:

"The government should not be permitted to pollute the trial with decades of dirt and invite a conviction based on propensity evidence with no proper purpose by painting Mr. Combs as a bad guy who must have committed the charged crimes."

The federal government has till now charged the business mogul with raketeering, s*x trafficking, and transportation with the intent of engaging in pr**titution. In addition to these charges, more than sixty lawsuits have been filed against him by several alleged victims.

The statement further argues that these other charges should not be allowed to be part of the trial, as it could further implicate the "Last Night" singer. It continues:

The Court should require the government to try the case it charged and prove that case to the jury beyond a reasonable doubt,”

More about the upcoming trial against Sean Diddy Combs

The latest filing comes after Diddy was indicted on five counts of s**ual trafficking on 4 April. Previously, the "Come with Me" the singer had been indicted on "two counts of s*x trafficking, two counts of transportation with intent of engaging in prostitution," as stated by People Magazine.

After the allegations by the woman, reffered to as Victim-2, were accepted by the court, Diddy's lawyer issued a statement to People Magazine, denying the claims and asserting that all encouters were consensual.

"These are not new allegations or new accusers. These are the same individuals, former long-term girlfriends, who were involved in consensual relationships. This was their private s*x life, defined by consent, not coercion.”

Sean Diddy Combs was first arrested in September of last year at a hotel in New York. The authorities had previously raided his homes in Los Angeles and Miami back in March 2024. The first allegations against him were brought by his former girlfriend, Cassandra "Cassie" Ventura, in 2023, alleging "cycle of abuse, violence, and s*x trafficking" during the course of their relationship.

The case, however never went to trial as both parties setteled out of court. However, later in the same year, several other victims came forward with accusations against the "Act Bad" singer. Moreover, a 2016 video of the rapper physically assaulting Ventura in the lobby of the InterContinental Hotel in L.A. was released by CNN in 2024, which Diddy and his lawyers have claimed to be fabricated.

Now, in another development, Cassandra Ventura will take the stand on 5 May using her real name. The other two victims shall be identified by their pseudonym, as Victim-2 and Victim-3. The statement released by prosecutors explained the reason for protecting their identities:

"She [referring to Cassandra Ventura] is prepared to testify under her own name. Victim-2, Victim-3, and Victim-4 have asked that their identities not be revealed to the press or the public. This case has already received an exceptional amount of media coverage, which will presumably only increase as trial proceeds."

The statement further continues:

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'Permitting these measures will prevent unnecessary public disclosure of the victims’ identities, and the harassment from the media and others, undue embarrassment, and other adverse consequences that would almost certainly follow if these women were forced to reveal their true names publicly at trial."

Sean Diddy Combs, who has consistently denied all accusations against him, has been held at the Metropolitan Detention Centre in Brooklyn, New York, since his arrest last year.

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