Diddy appeared in court today for his THIRD attempt to get bail in his sex trafficking case amid a row over prosecutorial misconduct.
The 55-year-old disgraced hip-hop mogul will appear before a federal judge in New York, where his lawyers will try to get him released.
His family arrived in a large van with blacked-out windows. His mother Janice, 84, emerged hand-in-hand with Diddy’s son Christian ‘King’ Combs, 26, and walked into the court.
Diddy himself walked into the courtroom through a side door wearing a jail-issued tan top and pants
He was not shackled after his lawyers claimed it would undermine the “dignity” of the court.
Diddy broke into a smile when he saw seven members of his family in the second row of the public gallery, including his mother Janice, 83, who was wearing sunglasses, adopted son Quincy, 33, Justin, 30, King, Chance, 18, and his twin daughters. D’Lila and Jessie, 17.
In this courtroom sketch, Sean “Diddy” Combs, center, sits at the defense table with attorneys Marc Agnifilo, left, and Anthony Ricco, right, during a hearing in October
His mother Janice, 84, emerged from a black van with blacked-out windows, holding hands with Diddy’s son Christian ‘King’ Combs, 26, and walked into court today.
He blew them kisses, made a prayer sign with his hands and tapped his heart.
Diddy warmly hugged his lawyers and sat down at a table where he put on reading glasses to review some documents.
The proceedings started with a bang when Anthony Ricco, the disgraced rapper’s attorney, told Judge Arun Subramanian, “I would like to point out that Mr. Combs’ family is present.” They have traveled a great distance to be here. That’s his mother, his children and other relatives.’
Judge Subramanian thanked Diddy’s family in response and said it was “important for you to be here.”
Prosecutor Christy Slavik said Diddy was “a violent abuser and a danger to the community” as he argued he should be taken into custody.
Lawyers for the founder of Bad Boy Records claim the prosecution case is “fictional” and that they have put a “theatrical spin” on it.
They are expected to claim that a key piece of evidence – a video of him assaulting his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura in 2016 – was “doctored” to make it look worse than it actually is.
The Combs family arrived in the Southern District of New York federal court on November 22 to attend a hearing for Diddy – including his (pictured) adopted son Quincy, 33, Chance, 18, and his twin daughters D’Lila and Jessie, 17.
Diddy’s attorney Marc Agnifilo arrived at federal court in Manhattan on Friday
The defense is expected to argue that a key piece of evidence – a video of him assaulting his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura in 2016 – was “manipulated” to make it look worse than it actually is.
The brutal video of Diddy attacking singer Cassie in a Los Angeles hotel hallway in March 2016 was released by CNN in May
Diddy is accused of running a decade-long criminal empire, including orgies called “Freak Offs,” in which women were drugged and forced into marathon sex sessions, sometimes with male prostitutes.
He has denied sex trafficking and extortion, among other things, and will stand trial in May next year.
Diddy has already been denied bail twice, including a $50 million bond that involves 24-hour surveillance by guards and house arrest.
But prosecutors have argued that he continues to obstruct justice while in jail and that no amount of bail would prevent him from influencing the jury and tampering with witnesses.
Their filings have led to a legal showdown over what Diddy’s lawyers claim is a “complete institutional failure” by prosecutors.
The dispute involves notes seized by a Bureau of Prisons investigator during an Oct. 28 raid on Diddy’s cell at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, where he is being held.
Under-fire rap megastar Diddy looks on top of the world as he and his then-girlfriend Cassie party at the Bad Boy Sound Clash in Kingston, Jamaica, in January 2013
Diddy is accused of running a decade-long criminal empire, including orgies called “Freak Offs,” in which women were drugged and forced into marathon sex sessions, sometimes with male prostitutes.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Johnson argues for prosecution as Diddy and his attorneys Agnifilo and Geragos sit during a bail hearing on September 18
Prosecutors used some notes to argue that Diddy still tried to obstruct justice by paying a female witness to make a positive statement about him on Instagram.
Diddy’s lawyers have argued that this material is confidential and said in court this week that they need to gather more information before deciding what the remedy might be.
But the case is so serious that it may have to be dismissed or the team of four female prosecutors re-tried, Marc Agnifilo said.
Diddy was arrested on September 16 and has been in the MDC ever since.
He appeared relaxed in court Wednesday, smiling and joking with his lawyers.
Earlier this week, he was hit with five new civil lawsuits, the latest in a flurry that is expected to reach more than 100 once all are filed.
The new claims include an allegation from a woman who says she was drugged and raped at one of Diddy’s infamous “White Parties” in New York’s Hamptons.
Diddy’s lawyers deny all civil allegations.