One of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ victims in the sex-trafficking saga — a former girlfriend — has asked a federal judge in Manhattan to release the hip-hop mogul on bail ahead of his October sentencing on a prostitution conviction.
Gina Huynh, who was identified as “victim 3” in court papers, told U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian that Combs has not been violent in years and that he has worked to become a better man and father.
“He has substantial ties to his family and community, including children who depend on him for emotional and financial support. Granting him bond would allow him to continue caring for his family and fulfilling his responsibilities while still subject to the Court’s supervision,” Ms. Huynh said in a letter supporting Combs’ defense team.
Ms. Huynh had previously said she was abused by Combs, so her reversal is an unexpected turn of events in the rapper’s legal drama.
She had been subpoenaed to testify against him but reportedly decided not to testify at the last minute.
Combs’ lawyers have asked the court to dismiss his conviction on prostitution or grant their client a new trial.
His defense team says the prosecution failed to prove its charges that he was involved in a racketeering and criminal conspiracy ring in commissioning “freak offs” — extended sexual encounters between his girlfriends and male prostitutes.
He allegedly hired male prostitutes and had his girlfriends travel to him to engage in days of drug-fueled sexual relations and videotaped the interactions.
“Sean Combs sits in jail based on evidence that he paid adult male escorts and entertainers who engaged in consensual sexual activities with his former girlfriends, which he videotaped and later watched with the girlfriends. That is not prostitution, and if it is, his conviction is unconstitutional,” his lawyers’ filing reads, according to Sky News.
Prostitution involves engaging in sexual conduct with another person in exchange for a fee. It is outlawed in most of the United States and regulated in certain counties in Nevada.
Combs was convicted of two prostitution-related charges in July but acquitted of the more serious charges of racketeering and conspiracy. His lawyers have moved that he be released on $50 million bail ahead of his sentencing hearing on Oct. 3.
Prosecutors oppose the release, arguing that Combs should face four to five years in prison. Each prostitution charge could face up to a maximum of 10 years.
According to Rolling Stone, President Trump has been quizzed about a possible pardon for Combs.
“I haven’t seen him, I haven’t spoken to him in years. He used to really like me a lot, but I think when I ran for politics that relationship busted up … I read some little bit nasty statements in the paper all of a sudden,” Mr. Trump said in May.
The president told reporters he “would certainly look at the facts.”
“I know people are thinking about it,” Mr. Trump said. “People have been very close to asking.”
