Latest news with #SeanDiddyCombs
Yahoo
a day ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Activists demand release of immigrant detainees in Brooklyn
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (PIX11) — The notorious metropolitan detention center in Brooklyn is front and center in the ongoing ICE raids in New York City. It now houses more than 100 immigrant detainees, many of them with no criminal history. More Local News On Monday, lawmakers and activists stood in front of the detention center demanding justice for the detainees held inside. The controversial troubled currently houses famous inmates like Sean 'Diddy' Combs and accused healthcare CEO killer Luigi Mangioni. Now, ICE detainees are also being held inside; some of them were plucked out of federal court buildings by masked ICE agents while trying to navigate their way legally through the system. The state and federal lawmakers reported ICE detainees are being denied access to lawyers and fast-tracked for transfers to federal facilities down south, separating them from their families. They are calling for their immediate release. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
2 days ago
- Politics
- CBS News
More than 100 migrants moved to same Brooklyn jail as Sean "Diddy" Combs and Luigi Mangione
More than 100 migrants detained by ICE are being held at the same Brooklyn jail where Sean "Diddy" Combs and Luigi Mangione are being held. There are concerns about the conditions inside the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. "This is dangerous. It's lawless. And it's unacceptable," Rep. Dan Goldman said at a news conference in front of the facility. "They are community members who deserve to be treated with dignity." Goldman has not been granted access into the facility as of yet, but according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, the Department of Homeland Security has begun transferring detainees to the MDC. State Senator Andrew Gounardes says the MDC has been marred with lawsuits and protests, alleging poor conditions inside. "Federal judges have called this building behind us barbaric," Gounardes said. "We save that term for conditions that are beyond the pale." The Federal Bureau of Prison responded to CBS News New York's inquiry about the allegations made about the conditions in the facility. "The BOP takes seriously our duty to protect the individuals entrusted in our custody, as well as maintain the safety of correctional employees and the community. We make every effort to ensure the physical safety and health of the individuals confined to our facilities through a controlled environment that is secure and humane." CBS News New York also reached out to the Department of Homeland Security but did not hear back. Metropolitan Dentention Center has previously been subject to scrutiny The facility has housed high-profile inmates such as Combs, R. Kelly, Mangione and Sam Bankman-Fried. In March, federal officials charged 25 people allegedly involved in smuggling and violence at the facility. "What is broken here is not our people. What is broken is the system," Mixteca executive director Lorena Kourousias said. Detainments and deportations have spiked since President Trump took office and implemented new policy. CBS News polling from June shows a majority of Americans support deportations, but a new poll from Gallup this week shows that a record high 79% of Americans believe immigration is a good thing.
Fox News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Diddy, Johnny Depp, Kevin Spacey's legal victories expose critical flaw in #MeToo prosecutions: experts
Sean "Diddy" Combs, Kevin Spacey and Johnny Depp's legal victories have established that the #MeToo movement was a "wrecking ball" on the legal system as prosecutors failed to collect convictions in those high-profile cases. Celebrity status became an advantage for these public figures when entering the courtroom and facing a jury of their peers, experts told Fox News Digital. After seven weeks of trial, Diddy was found not guilty of sex trafficking – one of the most serious accusations the rapper had been facing. Spacey was acquitted in his high-profile London trial stemming from allegations that he had assaulted four men, while Depp won $10 million in his defamation case against ex-wife Amber Heard. The #MeToo Movement has proven to be a "reckoning" in the court of public opinion but a "wrecking ball for the American legal system," branding expert Doug Eldridge told Fox News Digital. "Initially, it provided exposure, disinfectant, and justice for decades of criminal behavior in Hollywood. However, the tidal wave of claims – many of which turned out to either be false, or simply lacking evidentiary support – caused an over-correction across the legal system that was akin to jerking the steering wheel the moment your tires begin to slip on ice. It gradually became emotion over evidence, and that is antithetical to jurisprudential standards in America." "The court of public opinion is an angry mob; a court of law is a jury of your peers. The latter requires evidence, a burden of proof, and a presumption of innocence, while the former often conflates an accusation with a conviction. In the height of the #MeToo era, these were all lacking and over a long enough timeline, Americans – men and women alike – begun to realize and eventually rebel against this." "It gradually became emotion over evidence, and that is antithetical to jurisprudential standards in America." Depp was awarded $10 million in 2022 after a jury found Heard defamed him. The jury decided it was clear the "Aquaman" star was referring to Depp when she wrote an opinion piece about being a victim of domestic violence. The "knee-jerk public reaction" to allegations of sexual assault or harassment isn't prevailing, as we've seen the jury become the "true arbiter" on the outcome in court, entertainment lawyer Tre Lovell explained to Fox News Digital. "The novelty of the #MeToo movement and fear of guilt through mere accusation is over," he said. "The public is now as sensitive to abusive extortion tactics by incredible opportunists as it is to legitimate claims by real victims. The courts and juries have maintained the status quo and been the true arbiter in deciding sex crimes, staving off and being unaffected by knee-jerk public reaction." Spacey sobbed outside the courthouse after being found not guilty. "I imagine that many of you can understand that there's a lot for me to process after what has just happened today," Spacey said at the time, according to the Daily Mail. "But I would like to say that I'm enormously grateful to the jury for having taken the time to examine all of the evidence and all of the facts, carefully, before they reached their decision." The sexual acts the "House of Cards" star was accused of had reportedly occurred between 2001 and 2013. They ranged from unwanted touching to aggressive crotch-grabbing and, in one instance, performing oral sex on an unconscious man. The lack of convictions on A-listers could be because "jurors love celebrities," former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani told Fox News Digital. "It doesn't matter if it's a civil or criminal case," he said. "They do better than ordinary Joes. And prosecutors like going after celebrities to make a name for themselves, cash out and leave the District Attorney and U.S. Attorney's Office for a high-paying gig. The same applies to civil plaintiff's lawyers. They prefer suing celebrities to regular people because of the publicity and the fact that they have lots of money and can pay a judgment. And with that celebrity money comes the ability to pay the best and brightest lawyers in the game." "Celebrity cases are tough to win, because you have a well-liked defendant who may be the target of an aggressive prosecutor or civil plaintiff's lawyer, and who has unlimited funds to assemble a dream team. Lawyers think they can steamroll them like their other defendants, but they can't because of the difference in resources and the innate advantages celebrities have. Trials often come down to liability and credibility, and celebrities have the upper hand, because jurors love them. That is why they are tough to take down inside a courtroom." "Trials often come down to liability and credibility, and celebrities have the upper hand, because jurors love them. That is why they are tough to take down inside a courtroom." The latest celebrity wins in criminal court – Diddy and Harvey Weinstein – show that the #MeToo Movement has taken a "serious hit," Rahmani noted. "#MeToo may not be dead, but after the Diddy verdict and Harvey Weinstein retrial, the movement has taken a serious hit," Rahmani, founder of West Coast Trial Lawyers, said. "Prosecutors are expected to win always, and they're going to be hesitant to file more cases against celebrities." Weinstein's retrial concluded June 11, a little over a year after his 2020 conviction was overturned. The former film producer was acquitted on a criminal sex act charge while the jury was unable to reach a verdict on Weinstein's rape charge. Weinstein was again convicted of sexually assaulting Miriam Haley, a production assistant. While Diddy scored a win with an acquittal on his sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy charges, the rapper still faces up to 20 years behind bars. The jury found Combs guilty on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution on July 2. His sentencing hearing has been set for Oct. 3, and prosecutors have recommended the music mogul serve between four and five years in prison. To keep a handle on public opinion during a high-profile celebrity trial, lawyers have turned to working alongside PR representatives to ensure an intact career. "There have been many instances where, despite an innocent ruling in the court of law, the public was not so forgiving, and a person's career was severely impacted or put to an end," Steve Konig, PR expert and owner of The Honig Company, told Fox News Digital. "During a trial, all sorts of damaging information is revealed and, regardless of the eventual ruling, it is next to impossible to remove this information from the minds of the public. Recognizing this, we're seeing a lot more instances of attorneys working closely with public relations professionals and crisis managers to try and render an innocent ruling in both the court of law and the court of public opinion."
Fox News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Diddy, Johnny Depp, Kevin Spacey's legal victories expose critical flaw in #MeToo prosecutions: experts
Sean "Diddy" Combs, Kevin Spacey and Johnny Depp's legal victories have established that the #MeToo movement was a "wrecking ball" on the legal system as prosecutors failed to collect convictions in those high-profile cases. Celebrity status became an advantage for these public figures when entering the courtroom and facing a jury of their peers, experts told Fox News Digital. After seven weeks of trial, Diddy was found not guilty of sex trafficking – one of the most serious accusations the rapper had been facing. Spacey was acquitted in his high-profile London trial stemming from allegations that he had assaulted four men, while Depp won $10 million in his defamation case against ex-wife Amber Heard. The #MeToo Movement has proven to be a "reckoning" in the court of public opinion but a "wrecking ball for the American legal system," branding expert Doug Eldridge told Fox News Digital. "Initially, it provided exposure, disinfectant, and justice for decades of criminal behavior in Hollywood. However, the tidal wave of claims – many of which turned out to either be false, or simply lacking evidentiary support – caused an over-correction across the legal system that was akin to jerking the steering wheel the moment your tires begin to slip on ice. It gradually became emotion over evidence, and that is antithetical to jurisprudential standards in America." "The court of public opinion is an angry mob; a court of law is a jury of your peers. The latter requires evidence, a burden of proof, and a presumption of innocence, while the former often conflates an accusation with a conviction. In the height of the #MeToo era, these were all lacking and over a long enough timeline, Americans – men and women alike – begun to realize and eventually rebel against this." "It gradually became emotion over evidence, and that is antithetical to jurisprudential standards in America." Depp was awarded $10 million in 2022 after a jury found Heard defamed him. The jury decided it was clear the "Aquaman" star was referring to Depp when she wrote an opinion piece about being a victim of domestic violence. The "knee-jerk public reaction" to allegations of sexual assault or harassment isn't prevailing, as we've seen the jury become the "true arbiter" on the outcome in court, entertainment lawyer Tre Lovell explained to Fox News Digital. "The novelty of the #MeToo movement and fear of guilt through mere accusation is over," he said. "The public is now as sensitive to abusive extortion tactics by incredible opportunists as it is to legitimate claims by real victims. The courts and juries have maintained the status quo and been the true arbiter in deciding sex crimes, staving off and being unaffected by knee-jerk public reaction." Spacey sobbed outside the courthouse after being found not guilty. "I imagine that many of you can understand that there's a lot for me to process after what has just happened today," Spacey said at the time, according to the Daily Mail. "But I would like to say that I'm enormously grateful to the jury for having taken the time to examine all of the evidence and all of the facts, carefully, before they reached their decision." The sexual acts the "House of Cards" star was accused of had reportedly occurred between 2001 and 2013. They ranged from unwanted touching to aggressive crotch-grabbing and, in one instance, performing oral sex on an unconscious man. The lack of convictions on A-listers could be because "jurors love celebrities," former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani told Fox News Digital. "It doesn't matter if it's a civil or criminal case," he said. "They do better than ordinary Joes. And prosecutors like going after celebrities to make a name for themselves, cash out and leave the District Attorney and U.S. Attorney's Office for a high-paying gig. The same applies to civil plaintiff's lawyers. They prefer suing celebrities to regular people because of the publicity and the fact that they have lots of money and can pay a judgment. And with that celebrity money comes the ability to pay the best and brightest lawyers in the game." "Celebrity cases are tough to win, because you have a well-liked defendant who may be the target of an aggressive prosecutor or civil plaintiff's lawyer, and who has unlimited funds to assemble a dream team. Lawyers think they can steamroll them like their other defendants, but they can't because of the difference in resources and the innate advantages celebrities have. Trials often come down to liability and credibility, and celebrities have the upper hand, because jurors love them. That is why they are tough to take down inside a courtroom." "Trials often come down to liability and credibility, and celebrities have the upper hand, because jurors love them. That is why they are tough to take down inside a courtroom." The latest celebrity wins in criminal court – Diddy and Harvey Weinstein – show that the #MeToo Movement has taken a "serious hit," Rahmani noted. "#MeToo may not be dead, but after the Diddy verdict and Harvey Weinstein retrial, the movement has taken a serious hit," Rahmani, founder of West Coast Trial Lawyers, said. "Prosecutors are expected to win always, and they're going to be hesitant to file more cases against celebrities." Weinstein's retrial concluded June 11, a little over a year after his 2020 conviction was overturned. The former film producer was acquitted on a criminal sex act charge while the jury was unable to reach a verdict on Weinstein's rape charge. Weinstein was again convicted of sexually assaulting Miriam Haley, a production assistant. While Diddy scored a win with an acquittal on his sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy charges, the rapper still faces up to 20 years behind bars. The jury found Combs guilty on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution on July 2. His sentencing hearing has been set for Oct. 3, and prosecutors have recommended the music mogul serve between four and five years in prison. To keep a handle on public opinion during a high-profile celebrity trial, lawyers have turned to working alongside PR representatives to ensure an intact career. "There have been many instances where, despite an innocent ruling in the court of law, the public was not so forgiving, and a person's career was severely impacted or put to an end," Steve Konig, PR expert and owner of The Honig Company, told Fox News Digital. "During a trial, all sorts of damaging information is revealed and, regardless of the eventual ruling, it is next to impossible to remove this information from the minds of the public. Recognizing this, we're seeing a lot more instances of attorneys working closely with public relations professionals and crisis managers to try and render an innocent ruling in both the court of law and the court of public opinion."
ABC News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- ABC News
Sean 'Diddy' Combs's' criminal conviction may not end his career
In the hours after the jury handed down its verdict in Sean "Diddy" Combs's federal court case, a video began to circulate online. It shows a group gathered outside the Manhattan courthouse. Some throw their hands up, others dance, and one squirts a bottle of baby oil on another. They appear to be celebrating Combs — who at the end of 2024 was indicted on US federal charges following a slew of civil lawsuits — being found not guilty of racketeering and sex trafficking, greatly reducing his potential jail time. On July 4, after weeks of trial testimony, including an emotional statement from a heavily pregnant Cassie Ventura — who settled a civil suit against her former partner Combs last year — a jury delivered its finding. The 55-year-old was guilty of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, his least serious charges. Combs was found not guilty on two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, and on one count of racketeering conspiracy. He will be sentenced in October. For the fans that gathered outside of the courthouse, it was as good as a victory. Some yelled "free Diddy" as others rushed to supply the abundant news cameras with sound bites claiming all the charges against Combs should have been struck off. The response from fans shows a path forward for the celebrity despite him being convicted of a serious crime. There's something unique about being more than just a casual fan of an artist, according to Bertha Chin, an expert in fandom subculture and a senior lecturer in media and cultural studies at Singapore National University. A strong sense of what feels like a reciprocal connection with a celebrity — otherwise known as a parasocial relationship — can lead to fans being not only engaged with an artist's work, but also "involved in the politics", she told ABC Entertainment. In recent years, parasocial relationships have become increasingly prevalent — in part because celebrities are nurturing them. "We're saturated with choices, so it's all the more important for artists and celebrities to develop a relationship with their fans. It's a mutually beneficial relationship," Dr Chin said. "Artists are promoting their latest projects or themselves, whereas fans inherently see themselves being represented by the artists, or want to achieve something towards emulating said artists." And in that relationship, there can be a blurry line between a fan defending an artist and willingly ignoring an artist's bad, or illegal, behaviour altogether. "There's been a lot of discussions … on whether fans should separate the creator from the art, that continuing to support the media does not necessarily mean that they are also supporting the actions of its creators," Dr Chin said. "It's a complex emotion, and I'd say some fans are more successful at separating the creator from the creative works than others." Fans sticking by their favourite artists even after they have been convicted of a violent crime is not unheard of. A day before Combs's verdict was handed down, thousands of music fans were lining up outside Glasgow's 50,000-plus capacity Hampden Park stadium to see Chris Brown live in concert. After a string of mid-2000s hit songs, Brown was charged with attacking his then-girlfriend Rihanna in 2009. He pleaded guilty to felony assault over the incident, accepting a plea deal that gained him five years of probation, community service and domestic violence training. Brown has faced numerous legal issues in the years since his 2009 conviction, including an assault charge this past May. He also caused controversy in June when he posed with his hands around the neck of a female fan during a meet-and-greet. When local news outlet STV questioned the anticipatory fans waiting outside Hampden Park, some said they had no knowledge of the incident at all, some said he had changed, and one woman said she loves a "bad boy". "Both Sean Combs and Chris Brown exert a very particular kind of hyper-masculine trait that attracts a very specific type of fan," Dr Chin said. "Certain artists will attract a specific kind of following based on their image or branding … It's not really about the parasocial relationships as such, but more what fans see and understand an artist represents." Following his trial, Combs was denied bail, which means he will stay behind bars at least until his sentencing in October. After his sentence is handed down, Combs will have the option to appeal against his conviction or the sentence. Outside of the federal case, Combs is still facing 66 civil lawsuits that accuse him of sexual assault, false imprisonment, battery and more. Speaking to the Associated Press, Evan Nierman, CEO and president of crisis public relations firm Red Banyan, said he saw a path for Combs to emerge relatively unscathed, despite all of the accusations. "This is a very positive outcome overall for him. And it does give him an opportunity to try to rebuild his life," Mr Nierman said. "It won't be the same, but at least he's likely going to be out there in the world and able to move forward." While each of Combs's convicted charges carry a maximum sentence of 10 years, the prosecution has pointed to sentencing guidelines that appear to recommend a prison term of a little more than five years. Combs's lawyers say the sentence should be a maximum of two years, with time served on account of music star being behind bars for more than a year. "It's a powerful thing for the hip hop mogul to go public …that the feds tried to come after him and they failed," Mr Nierman said. "I could definitely see him leaning into that." ABC/AP
