Diddy’s Legal Team Says Several Factors, Including the Lack of a Laptop, Are Hindering His Trial Preparation

Diddy’s legal team is claiming the Bad Boy founder cannot properly prepare for trial due to the conditions the courts have placed on him. This includes his lack of access to a laptop.

With a 2025 trial date approaching, Diddy’s lawyers are raising concerns about the circumstances under which their client is being held. The 55-year-old was arrested in September in New York, with a subsequent unsealed indictment revealing trafficking and racketeering charges. The hip-hop powerhouse later pleaded not guilty. Since then, the case has seen several updates, including failed bail attempts and arguments that prosecutors are compromising Diddy’s chance at a “fair trial.”

The latest legal filing focuses on the alleged interference with Diddy’s trial preparations. According to his lawyers, federal officials and prison staff are monitoring his communications with legal counsel. They cite a recent raid in which a prison employee allegedly photographed Diddy’s handwritten notes and shared them with prosecutors.

“The evidence shows the government is using Mr. Combs’ detention to spy on him and invade his confidential communications with his counsel. Since his arrest, the government has been working with BOP staff, including ‘Investigator-1,’ to take advantage of his incarceration by meticulously monitoring all his communications, including with his attorneys.  And during a recent BOP sweep of MDC, Investigator-1 illegally searched Mr. Combs’ handwritten notes containing privileged communications and work product. Investigator-1 photographed the notes and then shared them with the prosecutors,” part of the filing read.

Diddy’s attorneys argue these actions violate his Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Amendment rights, describing the search of his notes as “illegal” and the tactics as “unfair and unconstitutional.” They also argue that Diddy’s chance for a fair trial is being undermined by out-of-court statements and conspiracy theories fueled by the government.

Additionally, his team is pushing for the court to order the Metropolitan Detention Center to provide him with a laptop, which they argue is necessary for his preparation. The proposed restrictions on its use, they claim, have “no justification” and are unique to Diddy’s case.

New Diddy filing:

His lawyers say he still hasn’t gotten the laptop he needs in jail, and prosecutors’ proposed restrictions on his use “are untenable and from what we understand, not required of any other inmate on Mr. Combs’ unit.” pic.twitter.com/PLUP690gmO

— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) December 4, 2024