Diddy We're Challenging Search Warrants ... Feds Offered 'Distorted Picture of Facts'
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Diddy's legal team is attacking the search warrants federal agents obtained to raid his homes and examine his internet history -- claiming feds "made false statements" in their applications for the warrants.
The super producer's lawyers filed the documents Sunday ... asking a judge to suppress all of the evidence obtained in the searches because the government "presented a grossly distorted picture of the facts" when obtaining the warrants.
Diddy's team says the feds had a variety of evidence that would prove at least one alleged victim willingly participated in the so-called "freak-offs." In court documents, the feds define a "Freak Off" as days-long sexual activity between Diddy, a woman and a male commercial sex workers, some of whom were transported over state lines.
Diddy Ex-Attorney Quit Over Defense Strategy Battle
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Diddy has one less lawyer fighting for him heading into his federal trial, because his legal team couldn't get on the same page regarding the best defense for him ... TMZ has learned.
Sources with direct knowledge of Anthony Ricco's exit from Diddy's camp tell us there had been a power struggle going on between lead attorney Marc Agnifilo and him for several months, and it finally came to a head.
As we reported, Ricco shook up Diddy's team Friday morning by informing the judge he could no longer "effectively" defend his client -- but his filing lacked detail about why he was jumping ship.
Erik and Lyle Menendez Cousin Rips D.A. ... You're Silencing Abuse Survivors!!!
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The family of Erik and Lyle Menendez is ripping Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman ... saying he's opening old wounds and silencing survivors of sexual abuse with his latest comments on their case.
Anamaria Baralt, Erik and Lyle's cousin and niece of Jose Menendez, tells TMZ ... Hochman's dismissal of two new pieces of evidence related to sexual abuse is "abhorrent."
The D.A. held a news conference Friday where he said the Menendez brothers didn't deserve a new trial, even though they claim they have new evidence showing they were being molested by Jose before they killed their parents.
Erik and Lyle Menendez D.A. Says Brothers Don't Deserve a New Trial
The Menendez Brothers got a thumbs down from the L.A. County D.A. when it comes to getting a new trial based on new evidence.
L.A. County D.A. Nathan Hochman just announced his office will oppose the brothers' request for another trial based on 2 pieces of evidence -- a letter from Erik to his cousin purportedly written in 1988 where Erik discusses sexual abuse, and a declaration from a member of Menudo saying Jose Menendez molested him in the '80s. The D.A. says the new evidence does not change what happened when Erik and Lyle were convicted of murder.
Hochman says he did not hear the "2 Angry Men" podcast in which Erik and Lyle talked about how they've evolved in the 35 years behind bars.
Luigi Mangione Defense Attorney Blasts Eric Adams ... Got Hair, Makeup Done to Prejudice Jury!!!
Luigi Mangione's lawyer is pissed off at the mayor of New York City ... blasting Mayor Eric Adams for giving a TV interview about the alleged evidence against her client -- when she says she has yet to receive it from cops.
Karen Friedman Agnifilo appeared on the steps of a NYC courthouse Friday just minutes after Mangione's court appearance ... the first look the public has gotten of him since he was arraigned in December for allegedly murdering UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
KFA says she had a few serious concerns to bring up in court ... one of the biggest being "Who is Luigi Mangione?" -- a recent documentary released by HBO which features high-ranking police officials and Mayor Adams himself.
Luigi Mangione I'm Back In Court!!!
Luigi Mangione is back in court, providing the first look at the accused killer after spending the last two months behind bars.
Luigi, the guy who is accused of fatally shooting UnitedHealthCare Group CEO Brian Thompson in Midtown Manhattan, went before a judge Friday in a status hearing in his state case.
It's the first time we've seen Luigi since his December arraignment ... and folks were interested in how he would look after spending the past few months at MDC in Brooklyn, the jail where Diddy is being held pending his own trial.
Luigi Mangione 'The Perp Walk Pissed Us Off!!!' Folks Flock to Courthouse
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Luigi Mangione is about to go before a judge ... and the NYC courthouse is packed to the gills with folks who traveled from across the country to get a glimpse of the man accused of killing a healthcare CEO.
The accused killer's first court appearance since December is happening today on the 15th floor of a Lower Manhattan courthouse, where people waited for hours in the freezing cold just for a chance to get inside and see Luigi.
One of those hopefuls is Brooke Warner ... a 28-year-old woman from Utah who tells us she flew to the Big Apple with her fiancé just for Luigi's hearing.
Kroy Biermann I'll Divorce You Anywhere, Kim ... Forced to File Petition in New County
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11:39 AM PT -- Kim & Kroy have just jointly dismissed their divorce in Fulton County ... unsurprising given this morning's filing. The divorce is still on, no doubt -- it's just taking place in Cobb County now.
Kim Zolciak and Kroy Biermann have proven their desire to get divorced knows no geographic bounds ... Kroy just filed another divorce petition to end her union with Kim 'cause she left the county.
The reality star filed the new document Thursday afternoon ... and, it notes Kim's living in a new Georgia county, so he had to file the paperwork again to get the wheels turning on the split.
Diddy Attorney Bails on Federal Case ... Can't 'Effectively' Rep Him
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10:41 AM PT -- We're getting more clarity on Anthony Ricco's departure ... sources with direct knowledge of the case tell us Ricco and Diddy's relationship -- or lack thereof -- became an issue. We're told Ricco felt he was unable to establish or maintain the kind of relationship he'd need to have with the client in order to "effectively" defend him.
It's still unclear why exactly Ricco didn't feel closer to Diddy.
Diddy's latest legal drama is on his own team ... less than 3 months before his federal trial, one of the hip hop mogul's attorneys is abruptly bolting from the case.
Anthony Ricco filed a motion Friday morning in the Southern District of New York federal court to withdraw as Diddy's counsel. In the docs, obtained by TMZ, Ricco states, "under no circumstances can I continue to effectively serve as counsel for Sean Combs, consistent with the ABA Standards for Criminal Justice."
He offered no further explanation for his departure, but did add that there are "sufficient reasons for [the] brevity" of his request. Ricco does say he's discussed the action with Diddy's lead counsel Marc Agnifilo, confirming there won't be any lapse in representation or delay with jury selection or trial commencement.
Erik and Lyle Menendez Brutalized Behind Bars
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Erik and Lyle Menendez were viciously attacked in the early days of their time in prison, but their lives have radically changed since then.
The Menendez brothers appeared by phone on TMZ's podcast, "2 Angry Men" with Harvey Levin and Mark Geragos, who reps Erik and Lyle. They talked about how they survived and evolved in the 35 years they've been incarcerated.
Erik says he was violently attacked numerous times, but never fought back. He and Lyle were in separate prisons for the first 21 years behind bars, and Erik vividly remembers when he got word his brother had been viciously attacked and suffered a broken jaw.
They are clearly anxious about their re-sentencing hearing next month, where they will learn how they will spend the rest of their lives -- either as prisoners or free men.
Lyle Menendez's Ex-Wife Lyle Was Always Injured in Prison ... Kept Details to Himself
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Lyle Menendez was constantly injured during his early days in jail, his ex-wife says ... but, he kept a sense of humor through it all and never spilled on exactly what happened to him.
We spoke with Anna Eriksson -- Lyle's wife from 1996 to 2001 -- who tells TMZ she went to visit Lyle quite a bit when he was first incarcerated ... and, he was clearly suffering from a series of injuries when she saw him.
Eriksson says she once saw the white of his eye was blood-red ... and, another time he couldn't even walk properly. Anna says she sent Lyle new shoes but later noticed he was wearing some old ones she didn't recognize -- and, she believes the new ones were taken from him by force.
Blake Lively Of Course Witnesses Are Staying Anonymous ... They're Terrified of Threats, Bullying!!!
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Blake Lively says she has people to corroborate her complaints against Justin Baldoni ... and, while JB and his team want them to reveal their names, there's one major reason they aren't -- they're terrified of receiving the same treatment as the A-list couple.
Sources with direct knowledge tell TMZ ... it shouldn't come as a surprise that the two cast members from "It Ends with Us" who will testify in support of Blake are hiding their identities -- 'cause they don't want to deal with the abuse like Blake and her husband, Ryan Reynolds, are receiving.
Our sources say Steve Sarowitz -- a partner in Wayfarer Studios -- allegedly comparing his retaliatory plan to Israel's campaign against Hamas, plus his willingness to empty coffers to take them down, would rattle anyone ... especially those just getting started in the industry!
As you know ... Blake filed an amended complaint earlier this week in which she said multiple people from the 'IEWU' set would come forward to corroborate her claims of sexual harassment against Justin Baldoni.
She didn't reveal their names ... and Baldoni's lawyer, Bryan Freedman, blasted the whole complaint as hearsay -- from people who were "clearly no longer willing to come forward or publicly support her claims."
Baldoni’s camp tells TMZ … "Ms. Lively, Mr. Reynolds, and their paid representatives initiated this campaign which has severely impacted many private individuals, their livelihoods, and their families.
"Since they’ve yet to show any evidence and continue to blame others for the online vitriol resulting from their own actions, they are now speaking on behalf of alleged third parties who have not come forward themselves.
"Wayfarer, Justin, and their representatives have no ill will nor vendetta against anyone who speaks up in any circumstance and have first-hand experience with and empathy for the struggles of going against incredibly powerful individuals in pursuit of the truth."
Justin and Blake are both living their lives in spite of the growing legal fray ... with Justin cooling off in Hawaii, while Blake hit the Big Apple for the "Saturday Night Live" 50th anniversary special last weekend.
It sounds like we'll have to wait and see who's willing to testify ... or if the fear of public backlash will get people to clam up.
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Nicolas Cage Sued Ex Wants Him to Pay For Weston Attacking Her
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2/21 6:45 AM -- Weston Cage's attorney tells TMZ in response to the lawsuit ... "Ms. Fulton’s decision to file a lawsuit against her own son is not surprising given her past history of litigation against family members.
He continues in the statement, "It appears to be nothing short of a money grab and call for attention. Ms. Fulton correctly advised the responding LAPD officers that her son was in the midst of a mental health crisis at the time of this incident. We will deal with this appropriately, and in a courtroom."
Nicolas Cage is far from Father of the Year in the eyes of his ex, as Christina Fulton is now suing him for fueling their son's violent tendencies ... which she believes led to him attacking her.
Christina filed the suit against Nic and their son Weston Cage over Weston's brutal alleged beating of his mother in L.A. last April. As you might expect, she's suing Weston for assault, battery, negligence and infliction of emotional distress -- but the legal twist here is she also thinks Nic's negligence played a big role in the abusive incident.
In the docs, obtained by TMZ, she says Nic was well aware of Weston's history of mental and psychological disorders ... but instead of addressing it, the actor enabled it. Christina claims Nic gave Weston financial support, bailed him out of jail multiple times, but never pushed him into getting any professional help.
Liam Payne Friend Roger Nores Off The Hook ... In Manslaughter Case
Liam Payne's friend Roger Nores is off the hook in the criminal case of the One Direction singer's drug-fueled death in Argentina, TMZ has confirmed.
Prosecutors originally charged Nores with manslaughter for allegedly abandoning Liam just prior to the star plunging to his death from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aries last October, while he was under the influence of alcohol and narcotics.
But, on Wednesday, the judges dropped the manslaughter charge against Nores and two hotel workers after the court ruled there was nothing the trio could have done to save Liam.
A$AP's Lawyer Joe Tacopina Polling The Jury Nearly Gave Me A Heart Attack!!!
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A$AP Rocky's lawyer, Joe Tacopina, is riding high after the not guilty verdict -- though he did confess he was this close to a heart attack right before it was read.
Tacopina swung by "TMZ Live" Wednesday ... revealing that when the judge polled the jury before reading out the verdict, his heart sank -- convinced they'd lost the case. In fact, he says the moment was so intense, he swears it felt like years were shaved off his life.
Check out the clip -- JT dives deeper into the nerve-wracking moment, admitting he’d never had a jury polled in any of his NYC cases ... saying the tension was so thick he even asked if it was standard practice in California.
Justin Baldoni Partner Allegedly Made Wild War Comparison ... Taking On Lively/Reynolds Like Israel vs. Hamas!!!
Justin Baldoni's business partner planned to go scorched earth on Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds, according to Lively's amended complaint ... comparing the impending legal battle to Israel's campaign against Hamas.
According to the document, Steve Sarowitz -- a partner in Baldoni's Wayfarer Studios, which produced "It Ends With Us" -- was ready to take down the Hollywood power couple back in August 2024 ... with Lively's team claiming he told a third party if the two ever "cross the line," he would go after them.
Blake says he then employed an outlandish analogy ... allegedly telling this person -- who was working with Wayfarer on a project unrelated to Lively and Baldoni's flick -- “I will protect the studio like Israel protected itself from Hamas. There were 39,000 dead bodies. There will be two dead bodies when I’m done."