Federal prosecutors fired back at Diddy and his attorney in court Thursday, saying he wrongfully accused them of racially profiling their famous client in the TMZ documentary “The Downfall of Diddy: The Indictment,” TMZ reports.
According to the report by TMZ, the tabloid reported that in the September documentary, Diddy’s lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, said the feds were pursuing the criminal case against his client , Diddy as a “takedown of a successful Black man.”
Agnifilo had said the feds couldn’t nail Diddy for anything related to taxes or his business empire, so they started poking around in his bedroom. In a grand jury indictment, the feds charged Diddy with racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, and transportation to engage in prostitution.
In Manhattan federal court Thursday, federal prosecutors labeled Agnifilo’s claims as “baseless” when he accused the government of engaging in a racist prosecution.
Things got even uglier in the courtroom, when Diddy’s legal team asked for a gag order, accusing the feds of leaking grand jury information to the press, the report by TMZ added.
TMZ had reported Wednesday, that the defense slammed the Department of Homeland Security for allegedly orchestrating the leak to CNN of the infamous video of Diddy viciously assaulting Cassie.
But, in court today, prosecutors denied giving out information publicly. The judge denied the gag order. Both sides agreed not to speak to journalists going forward.
Prosecutors also said in court Thursday the investigation is ongoing, with the potential of a superseding indictment against Diddy. TMZ broke the story … Diddy was facing possible additional charges.
The feds say they collected terabytes of e-data during their searches of Diddy’s homes in Miami, Los Angeles and New York over the last several months … and, they’re still sifting through it all.
The judge said Diddy will remain behind bars.
A courtroom sketch shows Diddy’s mother blowing her son kisses … this while he gestures to her with shackles on his legs.
The trial has been scheduled for May 5, 2025, with three weeks for the government case, and the defense will need about one week. The next conference is scheduled for December 18.
Diddy looked pretty happy in court Thursday– all of his kids were present and his mom was there, who flew in from Florida. After proceedings ended, they all filed out arm in arm.
The rap producer and his dream legal team earlier arrived in New York City’s Southern District Court Thursday after filing a motion to expedite the feds handing over their evidence in the case.
Diddy’s team — now consisting of 2 more attorneys, Anthony Ricco and Alexandra Shapiro — recently filed another motion as well … asking for bail for the third time since his arrest in the middle of September at a fancy NYC hotel.
Our sources say Ricco is known as one of the finest trial lawyers in the country while Shapiro is one of the best appellate lawyers practicing today.
As you know … Diddy’s currently locked up in MDC Brooklyn — a notoriously bad prison in NYC — where he’s awaiting trial on charges of sex trafficking, racketeering and kidnapping.
In his appeal for bail, Diddy’s lawyers have argued he’s not a flight risk despite the federal government’s case against him. Two different judges have already denied his bail.
In a motion filed Wednesday night, Diddy’s lawyers accuse the feds of orchestrating the leak of the infamous video of Diddy beating Cassie to CNN.
Diddy’s also dealing with a ton of civil issues as well … with lawyer Tony Buzbee recently saying more celebs will be sued alongside Diddy — and, Buzbee’s representing many people who have leveled allegations against the star. He’s denied all these allegations.
The Diddy grand jury is still meeting … hearing testimony from people and still mulling over potential charges.