Sean “Diddy” Combs, the 55-year-old music mogul facing charges of sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to engage in prostitution, has requested access to a government-prepared laptop within his prison cell to assist in his defense. This request comes after multiple denied bail applications, leaving Combs in federal custody as he awaits his trial scheduled for May 2025.
On December 4, 2024, Combs’ attorney, Marc Agnifilo, submitted a letter to U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian, urging the court to direct the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) to provide Combs with the laptop. The letter emphasizes that other inmates have similar access and that the laptop, prepared by the government, would enable Combs to review discovery materials and take notes pertinent to his case.
Despite the government’s provision of the laptop to the MDC on November 25, 2024, Combs has not yet received access to it. Agnifilo’s letter highlights the delay and notes that Combs was presented with limited options for laptop use, either in the unit’s video-teleconference room during specific times or in the legal visiting room between 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., but not both. The defense argues that these restrictions are untenable and inconsistent with the accommodations provided to other inmates.
The District Attorney’s office has not yet responded to the letter, but Agnifilo indicated that a response is anticipated. This development follows a series of legal challenges for Combs, including the seizure of handwritten notes from his jail cell, which a federal judge has ordered prosecutors to destroy due to concerns over attorney-client privilege.
As Combs remains in custody, his legal team continues to advocate for conditions that would allow him to effectively participate in his defense, emphasizing the importance of access to necessary resources during the pre-trial period.