Sean “Diddy” Combs is currently facing dozens of charges for racketeering and sex trafficking. He was arrested in New York and is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, NY. Raids of Combs’ home found firearms, ammunition, and more than 1,000 bottles of lubricant. 

While awaiting trial, an investigator for the Bureau of Prisons swept his cell and took photos of several pieces of paper. These papers included “(i) intact pages from two different legal pads, (ii) pages of an address book, (iii) a ripped-out, folded-over page of a third legal pad, (iv) a ripped-out page of another legal pad and (v) a ripped-out page of yet a different legal pad…”

Combs’ legal team alleges this unreasonable search and seizure violated his Fourth Amendment right, a fact that U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian was visibly shocked to hear. According to Combs’ attorney, “Nineteen pages were given to, and are in the possession of, the trial team, which has already started using these privileged materials to its advantage, including its opposition to bail”. He goes on to say they aren’t even sure how deep the breach goes in terms of what photos were taken. However, the lead prosecutor assured Judge Subramanian that all pages were sent to the defense team.  

When asked if it was standard procedure to photograph notebooks, Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik stated he did not know. Prosecutors said this search was facility-wide and did not break conduct; the defense team rebuked saying the security camera footage would prove this incorrect. Prosecutors then argued these papers are necessary as they show Mr. Combs paying a potential witness to obstruct justice. The defense team countered stating the legal pads should never have been documented as those are notes on confidential communication between Combs’ lawyers and their client. For now, the judge declared prosecution can not use the notes and must destroy all copies.

The Metropolitan Detention Center is well-known for its violence inside the cells as well as a significant lack of care for the inmates. Due to this Combs’ defense team has sought bail twice and has been denied both times. The rejection is due to concern about Mr. Comb’s severe flight risk and Diddy is currently in an extra-security section of the jail with barracks-style housing. If he is convicted, Combs will spend anywhere from 15 years to life in prison.