Judge rejects Diddy’s proposal for gag order in sex trafficking case

A New York judge has rejected Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ desperate request as the rapper remains behind bars on sex trafficking charges.

A New York judge rejected Sean “Diddy” Combs’ suppression proposal to prevent government officials from leaking information to the media as he remains behind bars on sex trafficking and racketeering charges, but nevertheless adopted a gag order similar to that requested by Combs.

On Friday, Judge Arun Subramanian responded to the request filed by the disgraced rapper’s legal team, according to court documents obtained by Page Six.

Although Subramanian refused to adopt the order proposed by Combs’ team, he still adopted an order, insisting that federal agents, investigators and the rapper’s team must follow the laws forbidding them from leaking grand jury proceedings that can meddle with a fair trial.

Diddy wants a gag order in place to prevent government officials from leaking information to the press. Picture: Angela WEISS / AFP

“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,” he wrote on Friday.

“The point of this order is to help ensure that nothing happens from now on that would interfere with a fair trial.”

Subramanian continued, “The Court will take appropriate action for any violation of the rules.”

Combs’ legal team declined to comment when contacted by Page Six.

A New York judge has rejected Diddy’s gag order proposal Picture: REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg

The ruling comes after the I’ll Be Missing You rapper’s attorneys accused the feds of leaking security footage of him abusing ex-girlfriend Casandra “Cassie” Ventura to the press earlier.

Documents obtained by Page Six revealed Combs’ team alleged earlier this month that government agents gave the video to CNN in May in a bid to “mortally wound the reputation and the prospect of Sean Combs successfully defending himself against these allegations.”

“Rather than using the videotape as trial evidence, alongside other evidence that gives it context and meaning, the agents misused it in the most prejudicial and damaging way possible,” the docs read.

Diddy’s children arrive at the Manhattan federal court in New York on October 10. Picture: AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura

The gruesome video showed the Bad Boy Records founder kicking, pulling and dragging Ventura, whom he dated on and off from 2007 to 2018, at the InterContinental Hotel in Century City, California in 2016.

The feds, however, denied leaking the clip, telling the judge via a letter, “The Government was not in possession of the video before its publication by CNN.

CCTV footage showing Diddy wrapped in a towel dragging then-girlfriend Cassie Ventura in 2016. Picture: EXCLUSIVE CNN

“There is thus no colourable factual basis for the defendant’s claim that the Government leaked the video to CNN, let alone that it was leaked ‘in violation of grand jury secrecy,’” the letter continued.

Combs previously apologised about the disturbing video, which isn’t related to his current charges, via social media, describing his behavior as “f***ed up.”

The Last Night crooner was arrested on September 16 and charged with racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution.

He is currently awaiting trial at a Brooklyn, New York, detention centre.

This article originally appeared in Page Six and was reproduced with permission

Originally published as Judge rejects Diddy’s proposal for gag order in sex trafficking case