This case *may* prove to be as culturally significant as the Epstein/Maxwell cases. We'll see.
The opening paragraph pulls no punches. It accuses Combs of setting up and operating a huge, multi-faceted criminal enterprise that provided him victims, money, protected his reputation, concealed his behaviors, etc.
This indictment extends to and impacts Combs' many businesses, all of which are complicit in enabling and/or concealing Combs many alleged crimes.
This includes the labels Bad Boy, Combs Enterprises, Combs Global, his record labels, adult bev company, media assets, etc.
Combs displayed a "persistent and pervasive pattern of abuse toward women and other individuals."
Combs forced people into sex work, drugging them, threatening their finances, their careers, and using violence if need be in order to "ensure participation."
Incidents of abuse involving Combs date back decades, and it appears prosecutors have some witnesses to these 2009 and 2016 incidents.
Yeah, I think there will be more charges and more indictments soon.
The Combs Enterprise.
Purposes of the Combs Enterprise
-Operating a global business
-Enriching members and associates
-Preserving, protecting, promoting, and enhancing the power, reputation, and brand of Sean Combs AS AN ENTERTAINER
-Preserving, protecting, promoting, and enhancing the power, reputation, and brand of Sean Combs THROUGH VIOLENCE, COERCION, ETC.
-Providing Combs with abuse victims
-Enabling Combs and others to engage in various unlawful acts
-Securing loyalty
-Protecting Combs Enterprise from Law Enforcement
Means and Methods
"Freak Offs"
"In or about March 2024, during searches of COMBS' residences in Miami, Florida and Los Angeles, California, law enforcement seized various Freak Off supplies, including narcotics and more than 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant."
What a monster.
Firearms were seized as well. We might see more charges for those.
More details of Combs and associates using violence, threats, bribes, etc to protect their enterprise and keep the abuse going.
If the allegations are true, what a monster. What an absolute monster.
Obviously this is all very Epstein/Maxwell-like, but in the Hollywood/Music Industry context. This is going to be a HUGE case, maybe trial, and will have a massive cultural impact.
The Racketeering Conspiracy
Whoa, the indictment alleges multiple acts of:
Kidnapping, arson, bribery, witness tampering, forced labor, sex trafficking, transport of a prostitute, illegal sex acts, narcotics offenses, and ofc conspiracy to commit racketeering.
He didn't do all that alone.
All of the above was the intro and Count One-Racketeering.
Next is Count Two-Sex Trafficking by Force, Fraud, or Coercion (Victim-1)
Wonder how many victims will eventually be brought forward?
Count Three-Transport to Engage in Prostitution
Forfeiture.
I've seen recent reports that Combs and his empire of businesses and assets are valued somewhere north of $800mil. Fox reported in April of this year that he may be worth over $1bil.
The DOJ and FBI have given @ChuckGrassley some 'dasting emails and internal memos re: Clinton Campaign/Fusion GPS/Steele Dossier/DNC nexus of corruption.
The emails "appear to show that Cooney [of USADC] and Pilger [of DOJ-PIN] stopped investigative steps into the matter."
Exchanges occurred between June 5, 2019 and June 21, 2019.
The parties are an FBI Agent, Richard Pilger of DOJ's Public Integrity Section, J.P. Cooney of the U.S. Attorney's Office for D.C., and AnnaLou Tirol of the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN).
"the FBI agent asked questions as to why the Clinton Campaign/Fusion GPS/DNC matter did not make a “good candidate to open an investigation” given there appeared to be “unambiguous concealment” by the DNC and Clinton Campaign for payments related to the production of the Steele Dossier."
"A federal judge expressed deep skepticism Thursday about whether a federal prosecutor handpicked by President Donald Trump to bring criminal cases against his political rivals was legally appointed to the role."
U.S. District Judge Cameron Currie promised she would rule on the matter before Thanksgiving.
The grand jury transcripts "confirmed that “Ms. Halligan acted alone,” without any other government attorneys in the room. That could threaten both cases if Currie ultimately decides Halligan was invalidly appointed"
"a portion of the grand jury proceedings that led to Comey’s indictment was “missing,” leaving certain aspects of Halligan’s interactions with the grand jury unreviewable."
In the lead-up to this afternoon's hearing, both sides made filings in support of their respective positions on the disclosure of grand jury materials.
Comey wants the grand jury materials disclosed; Govt wants the judge to review them in camera. 1/n
Last week, Mag. Judge Fitzpatrick denied DOJ's motion for a filter protocol and ORDERED them to turn over to Comey "all materials seized pursuant to the four 2019 and 2020 [Arctic Haze] search warrants," all grand jury material, and more.
DOJ appealed the order to disclose grand jury material.
Judge Nachmanoff DENIED the appeal, finding that "Judge Fitzpatrick’s Order regarding the disclosure of the grand jury materials falls within the matter referred to him..." and remands the matter back to Fitzpatrick for further proceedings.
2/n
Fitzpatrick set a hearing on the issue of disclosure of the grand jury material for today at 4pm.
The @USAO_SDFL "is recruiting prosecutors and restructuring its chain of command in preparation for a grand jury investigation expected to target former Justice Department officials and others involved in cases against President Donald Trump." 1/n
"The exact scope of the grand jury effort—which one of the individuals described as “special counsel oversight”—remains unclear."