Diddy’s Lawyers Ask for Him to Appear Unshackled in Court to Avoid ‘Juror Bias’

Sean “Diddy” Combs’ legal team is requesting that the music mogul be unshackled at all future court appearances.

“We write on behalf of our client, Mr. Sean Combs, to respectfully request that the Court direct the United States Marshals Service to unshackle Mr. Combs prior to bringing him into the courtroom for tomorrow's hearing and for all future court appearances,” Diddy’s attorney Marc Agnifilo asked Judge Arun Subramanian in a letter submitted on Monday, November 18.

In the court documents, obtained by Us Weekly, Agnifilo argued that Diddy, 55, being restrained while appearing in court “prejudices the potential jury pool” and “undermines his presumption of innocence.” He noted that Diddy wearing “leg shackles” during an October 10 court appearance caught the attention of the public, which could lead to potential “juror bias” in the future.

Agnifilo also argued that shackling Diddy “interferes” with his “ability to communicate with counsel and offends the dignity and decorum of the proceedings.”

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Diddy’s trial is set to begin in May 2025. The rapper was arrested and charged on counts of sex trafficking, racketeering, conspiracy and transportation to engage in prostitution in September. He pleaded not guilty and has denied the charges.

While awaiting trial, Diddy is incarcerated at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center. After being denied bail three times, Diddy’s legal team proposed a new $50 million bail package earlier this month. The attorneys suggested at-home detention with around-the-clock security and restrictions on Diddy’s ability to contact anyone outside of his legal team.

The prosecution hit back on Friday, November 15, claiming that Diddy should be denied bail for allegedly trying to obstruct an investigation while in prison.

“Since the defendant has been detained at MDC, he has continued to try to evade law enforcement monitoring, corruptly influence witness testimony, and further attack the integrity of these proceedings,” the court documents, obtained by CNN, read. “While attempting to evade law enforcement monitoring, the defendant has, among other things, orchestrated social media campaigns that are, in his own words, aimed at tainting the jury pool; made efforts to publicly leak materials he views as helpful to his case; and contacted witnesses through third parties.”

The prosecutors claimed that Diddy paid fellow inmates through payment processing apps and commissary account deposits in exchange for access to their telephone accounts and subsequently made “hundreds” of calls and texts using those accounts, which is in violation of jail rules.

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Days later, Diddy’s lawyers claimed that the prosecution had violated the musician’s rights by searching his jail cell.

“Defense counsel has recently learned that the prosecutors are in possession of attorney client privileged material, including the defendant’s own written notes. This search and seizure are in violation of Mr. Combs’ Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Amendment rights,” Agnifilo argued in a letter submitted on Monday, November 18.

Agnifilo requested an “immediate evidentiary hearing” to investigate the search and determine “who authorized a search of Mr. Combs’ sleeping area, personal effects and paperwork.”

If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).