Northeast
'Diddy' makes 3rd bail attempt after prosecutors allege he blackmailed victims from behind bars
Sean “Diddy” Combs returned to court Friday after renewing his push to be released on $50 million bail as he awaits trial on sex trafficking and racketeering charges – but the judge made no decision and asked both sides to submit documents by Monday.
U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian is expected to make a bail decision next week.
Earlier this week, the judge ordered federal prosecutors to delete images of the billionaire mogul’s handwritten notes taken during a search of his jail – which his lawyers said were protected by attorney-client privilege and improperly seized. Excerpts from those notes that prosecutors referenced previously cannot be used at the bond hearing, the judge added.
The quotes in question referenced getting “dirt” on at least two potential witnesses.
LAWYER BREAKS DOWN DIDDY’S ‘ONLY REAL CHANCE’ IN SEX CRIMES TRIAL AFTER FEDS OBTAIN JAILHOUSE NOTES
After seeing his bail denied on two prior occasions following an arrest in September, Combs renewed his quest for freedom last week with a new bail proposal offering the same $50 million sum, secured by his Miami Beach mansion, which his lawyers say is worth about $48 million. Prosecutors are arguing that Combs’ release could put victims and witnesses at risk. Despite the staggering sum offered up by the defense, the judge has so far kept the hip-hop icon behind bars.
In court documents, his lawyers argued that the brutal assault of former girlfriend Casandra “Cassie” Ventura in a Los Angeles hotel, preserved on video, was part of “a minutes-long glimpse into a complex but decade-long consensual relationship between Mr. Combs and Victim-1.”
Prosecutors previously raised “serious concerns” about the safety of victims and witnesses if Combs were to go free, and the judge overseeing his criminal case rejected his wide-ranging request for a gag order that would have restricted additional accusers from coming forward.
WATCH ON FOX NATION: WHAT DIDDY DO?
WATCH: Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs allegedly pummels woman in 2016 hotel video
“Combs’s authorities don’t support a gag order applicable not only to trial participants, but also to any alleged victim and their lawyer,” Judge Arun Subramanian wrote. “Local Rule 23.1 doesn’t authorize this kind of relief. The limitations of that rule don’t even apply to witnesses, let alone prospective ones that haven’t yet been identified.”
Combs has been held without bail at a federal jail in Brooklyn since his arrest on federal sex trafficking, forced prostitution and racketeering charges.
A trial is scheduled for May 5 of next year. By then, the U.S. attorney overseeing his case could be replaced by President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee, former Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Jay Clayton.
DIDDY ACCUSER SAYS SHE WOKE UP ON STREET WITH DATE RAPE DRUG IN HER SYSTEM AFTER MEETING MOGUL BACKSTAGE
The feds opened their investigation in November 2023, around the time Ventura sued Combs, alleging physical and sexual abuse. He settled her civil lawsuit a day after she filed it.
Combs vehemently denied the allegations from Ventura and from all the other accusers. Then, the video leaked – showing the nearly naked billionaire brutally assaulting her in the hallway of Los Angeles’ Intercontinental Hotel.
DIDDY PLACED ON ROUTINE SUICIDE WATCH IN NEW YORK JAIL: SOURCE
The video appeared to corroborate at least one claim in Ventura’s lawsuit – that Combs punched her in the face in the hotel in 2016.
“Mr. Combs became extremely intoxicated and punched Ms. Ventura in the face, giving her a black eye,” her lawyers alleged.
He was drunk, according to the lawsuit, and when he passed out, she tried to sneak out. However, he allegedly woke up and resumed screaming at her, followed her into the hallway and threw her on the ground.
Over the past year, new accusers have continued to come forward, and Texas attorney Tony Buzbee said in October he now represents more than 100 people looking to sue the rapper.
Combs has been accused of doling out date rape drugs and victimizing adults and children at parties, some of which allegedly involved unnamed “celebrity” accomplices.
The judge is still mulling over some of Combs’ other documents taken during the jail search, which include 19 pages of notes from his locker in the federal detention center, “intact pages from two different legal pads,” pages from an address book, and torn-out pages from three other legal pads.
The defense has also requested copies of jailhouse surveillance video taken during the search.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, please contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or go to rainn.org.
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Boston, MA
Injury Updates: Boston College Football vs UNC
The Boston College Eagles (5-5, 2-4 ACC) football team looks to become bowl eligible as it returns to Alumni Stadium to take on the UNC Tar Heels (6-4, 3-3 ACC).
Both teams are currently dealing with injuries in the program.
Below is a look at the latest injury updates for both teams.
[This story will be updated throughout the game with the latest injury news].
LB Caleb LaVallee | Questionable: Tar Heels linebacker Caleb LaVallee’s status for today’s game has yet to be determined. He has not played since UNC’s Nov. 2 game against FSU. He is dealing with a lower body injury and has been reportedly “monitored” this week.
RB Darwin Barlow | Questionable: Tar Heels running back Darwin Barlow’s status has yet to be revealed. Barlow’s appeared in three games this season, most recently in the team’s Nov. 2 game against FSU.
TE Bryson Nesbit | Out: Tar Heels tight end Bryson Nesbit will miss the game against the Eagles with an injury.
DB Max Tucker | Out: Eagles defensive back Max Tucker will miss the Eagles game against UNC. Tucker exited Boston College’s matchup against No. 13 SMU early in the game and did not return. Eagles head coach Bill O’Brien considered him “day-to-day.”
DB Bryquice Brown | Out: Eagles defensive back Bryquice Brown will miss the Eagles game against UNC. Brown exited Boston College’s matchup against No. 13 SMU and did not return. Eagles head coach Bill O’Brien considered him “day-to-day.”
LB Kam Arnold | Questionable: Eagles linebacker Kam Arnold’s status for today’s game has yet to be revealed. Arnold has missed Boston College’s last three games with an upper body injury.
RB Turbo Richard | Questionable: Eagles running back Turbo Richard’s status for the game has also not been revealed. Like Arnold, Richard has also missed the Eagles last three games as he’s dealing with an ankle injury.
Players Out For Season: LB Owen McGowan, CB Amari Jackson, RB Alex Broome, LB Jaylen Blackwell.
Pittsburg, PA
Analyst Blasts Steelers’ Mike Tomlin After Browns Loss
The Pittsburgh Steelers let their guard down in Week 12, dropping a divisional trap game to the now 3-8 Cleveland Browns in the snow.
The Steelers had no business losing to Cleveland, at least on paper, and there’s plenty of finger-pointing to go around. The Pittsburgh Post Gazette’s Ray Fittipaldo chose to shift the blame onto head coach Mike Tomlin during an interview with 93.7 The Fan’s Donny Chedrick on Friday morning, stating that his decisions didn’t age well as the contest went on.
“I think hands down, it was the coaching,” Fittipaldo said. “And I’m sure we’re gonna get into some of the personnel decisions and some of those fourth down calls, but I thought overall Mike Tomlin showed the Browns a lack of disrespect early in the game.”
Cleveland’s final drive of the night alone encapsulated what was a subpar night for Tomlin. On 3rd-and-2 from the Steelers’ 25-yard line, he decided to accept an illegal touching penalty on offensive lineman Ethan Pocic that pushed the Browns back five yards for a redo instead of making it 4th-and-2.
Despite the fact that Pittsburgh was in front 19-17 at the time, all indications pointed to Cleveland keeping its offense on the field instead of sending out the kicking unit given the weather. Had Tomlin declined the penalty, a stop on fourth down would have all but sealed a win.
Instead, Jameis Winston found Jerry Jeudy for a 15-yard completion and a first down. Tomlin also burned his second timeout with the clock stopped before the Browns moved the chains, which put Pittsburgh’s offense in a disadvantageous position on its ill-fated closing possession.
Nick Chubb went on to punch the ball into the end zone, putting Cleveland up for good with 57 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter.
Tomlin is an irreplacable part of the Steelers’ organization and is the driving force behind their success year in and year out, but Thursday night was a definite low point for him.
Pittsburgh still sits atop the AFC North with an 8-3 record, however, and can wash away any bad feelings emanating from the loss with a bounce back performance against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 13.
Make sure to bookmark Steelers On SI to get all your daily Pittsburgh Steelers news, interviews, breakdowns and more!
Connecticut
Connecticut man dies nine days after being struck by car in Wall
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WALL – A 64-year-old Connecticut man has died from injuries suffered when he was struck by a car on Route 35 Nov. 9, police said.
Michael Losacano, of Niantic, Connecticut, passed away on Nov. 18 at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, police said. Losacano was hit by a Ford Explorer being driven southbound on the highway near Wall Church Road by a 72-year-old Farmingdale man at about 6:42 p.m. Nov. 9, according to police.
Losacano was taken to the hospital by Wall Township EMS. The accident is still under investigation and police did not reveal the name of the Explorer’s driver.
The accident is being investigated by Wall police Sgt. Andrew Baldino, the Monmouth County Serious Collision Analysis Response Team (SCART), and Detective Nicholas Logothetis of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office.
Anyone who witnessed the collision or who has information relevant to the investigation is asked to call Wall police at (732) 449-4500.
Jean Mikle: @jeanmikle, jmikle@gannettnj.com.
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