In a dramatic development that has injected fresh complexity into Sean “Diddy” Combs’ ongoing legal battle, an ex-girlfriend who was initially slated to be a key prosecution witness has now written a letter to the judge advocating for his release on bail. Virginia Huynh, known as “Gina,” was part of the prosecution’s case against Combs, initially referred to anonymously as “Victim-3.” However, just days before the trial began, prosecutors alerted the court that they had "lost touch with her and her attorney, and 'she may not show up.'"
Now, in a surprising turn, the defense team has included a letter from Huynh in their latest attempt to secure Combs' release ahead of his sentencing on October 3. In the letter, Huynh identifies herself by name for the first time and asserts that she "does not believe Combs is a danger to the community." She goes on to portray him as a "committed family man 'who has not been violent in many years.'" While acknowledging that their relationship "was not always perfect," she wrote that "he was willing to acknowledge his mistakes and make better decisions," eventually embodying an "energy of love, patience and gentleness that was markedly different from his past behavior.”
This newfound stance stands in stark contrast to other accounts presented during the trial. Combs’ former assistant, George Kaplan, testified that he "once saw Combs throwing apples at Huynh at his home in Miami." The case's star witness, Cassie Ventura, also revealed that Combs was unfaithful to her by "dating Gina throughout their 11-year relationship." Furthermore, Ventura and other witnesses have "previously wrote letters to the judge, pleading for him to remain incarcerated," stating they would "fear for their safety if he were released from jail."
The new letter comes as Combs' defense team pursues a multi-pronged legal strategy. They have not only asked for his release on a "$50 million bond" but also filed a motion for a "complete acquittal or a new trial," arguing his conviction was "unconstitutional" and "unfairly prosecuted based on the Mann Act." Combs was convicted by a jury on two charges of "transpiration to engage in prostitution" but acquitted on the more serious charges of "racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking."
Despite the new letter from a former witness, the path to bail remains challenging for Combs. The judge’s initial decision to deny bail immediately after the verdict was based on Combs’ "admitted pattern of violence in his relationships," which was supported by "photographic and video evidence," including the widely publicized "2016 hotel surveillance footage of Combs beating Ventura." The court will now have to weigh Huynh’s unexpected letter against the weight of the evidence and the strong opposition from other victims as it decides on the future of the disgraced mogul before his sentencing.
