Sean “Diddy” Combs’ attorney Marc Agnifilo gave rare insight into the rap mogul’s life in federal prison.
The New York-based lawyer, who oversaw Combs’ sex-trafficking case in Manhattan federal court earlier this year, said his famous client spends a lot of time alone with his thoughts.
“I think he spends a lot of time thinking,” Agnifilo said in a new interview with Variety Friday.
“So many people say, ‘The worst thing I could do is spend too much time with myself.’ That’s what jail is.”
The defense lawyer admitted, “It’s difficult, and sometimes that’s necessary.”
Agnifilo said that when Combs’ trial was still underway throughout May and June, the Bad Boy Records founder, 55, spent “a tremendous amount of time preparing his defense.”
“He’s a remarkably smart man and was a valuable teammate in his own defense. So, we worked on his case for 20 hours a day every day, and he was at the center of it,” the attorney shared.
However, since Combs was found guilty of prostitution charges in July and has to await his Oct. 3 sentencing behind bars, as he was denied bail several times, he now spends time working on himself.
It was previously reported the former rap exec signed up for a self-help program called STOP, which is a course focused on preventing sexual assault, domestic and dating violence.
“He’s been doing a lot of writing. He writes essays, some of which I think are beautiful and poignant and thoughtful,” Agnifilo added to Variety. “He’s trying to pass the time productively.”
The attorney claimed that the “It’s All About the Benjamins” rapper has also been an asset to his fellow inmates by starting “programs” for those in jail with him.
“Unlike other prison facilities, there are almost no programs at the MDC. So, these men and women have nothing but time on their hands,” Agnifilo said.
Combs has been incarcerated at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, NY, even before his trial began. He has been locked up ever since he was arrested on Sept. 16, 2024.
During a hearing last December, a Law and Crime reporter present inside the courtroom called out how prison seemed to be taking a toll on the “I Need a Girl” rapper.
“He appeared just astonishingly thinner, which you can expect [from him being] inside a federal detention center for a couple of months now,” Elizabeth Millner said at the time.
“A lot different from the luxury lifestyle that he was living before, but he appeared very noticeably thinner and maybe being locked up in detention is starting to wear on him,” she added before pointing out that Combs’ hair had also noticeably turned gray.
However, a source downplayed that the “Last Night” rapper was struggling at the time, telling Page Six exclusively that Combs was “fit, healthy and fully focused on his defense.”
“He has been very active, remains in good spirits, and, as always, he was happy to see his children,” the insider added. We were also told he has been working out regularly.
Agnifilo himself had admitted, though, that food was the “roughest part” of his client’s imprisonment. Most recently, a July Fourth prison menu revealed Combs would be served cereal, fruit, milk, butter and a breakfast cake for breakfast, and a hamburger, bean burger, two hot dogs, among other items for lunch.
In his interview with Variety Friday, Agnifilo also shared that what weighs heavy on Combs is being away from his seven children.
“He misses his kids. He’s learned a lot,” the attorney shared. “What he wants to do when he gets out is to start small. He wants to spend time with his children and get reacquainted with his own life.”
Combs’ time in prison may be up sooner than expected, however, as President Trump is reportedly “seriously” considering pardoning the “Coming Home” rapper.
