A federal judge has denied Sean “Diddy” Combs’ request for a gag order aimed at silencing victims and their attorneys in his ongoing racketeering and sex trafficking case, calling the request “unprecedented” and “unwarranted.”
Judge Arun Subramanian rejected the rapper’s plea on Friday, stating that such an order would violate First Amendment rights and that a “blanket restriction” would unjustly silence individuals not directly involved in the criminal proceedings. Combs, also known as Puff Daddy and P. Diddy, was indicted in September on charges of racketeering and sex trafficking, allegedly operating a criminal enterprise to exploit victims for his personal “sexual gratification.” If convicted, Combs faces a potential life sentence.
Combs’ attorneys argued in an October filing that public statements from victims and their lawyers were prejudicing his right to a fair trial. His lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, claimed that media statements from prospective witnesses and lawyers behind the civil cases against Combs included “shockingly prejudicial and false allegations” aimed at damaging his reputation.
“Mr. Combs has a constitutional right to a fair trial, free from the influence of prejudicial statements in the press,” Agnifilo argued.
But Judge Subramanian found the requested gag order excessively broad, noting that it could infringe on free speech protections. “The court has an affirmative constitutional duty to ensure that Combs receives a fair trial,” he wrote, “but this essential… requirement must be balanced with the protections the First Amendment affords to those claiming to be Combs’s victims.” Subramanian also highlighted that many alleged victims may never participate in the criminal proceedings, making a universal restriction on their speech inappropriate.
The judge said that while he had already taken steps to manage public commentary related to the case, Combs was free to pursue specific remedies within the civil lawsuits if any improper statements were made. However, he emphasized that a sweeping gag order was “an extreme remedy to be issued only as a last resort,” concluding that Combs’ request “goes even further.”
In a separate development, Combs’ attorneys also renewed their request for his release on a $50 million bond. The filing highlighted the recent pretrial release of former Abercrombie & Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries, who is facing similar sex trafficking charges and was freed on a $10 million bond. Agnifilo argued that the release conditions for Combs were disproportionately strict compared to Jeffries, adding that Combs “is entitled to the same presumption of innocence.”
