A judge on Wednesday denied bail for rapper and producer Sean Combs, popularly known as “Diddy,” as he faces charges of sex trafficking and racketeering.
This marks the third time Combs has been denied bail. Prosecutors opposed his latest request, alleging that while in custody, he had contacted witnesses and used unauthorized communication platforms, raising concerns about potential witness tampering.
“For the following reasons, Combs’s motion is DENIED — no condition or combination of conditions will reasonably assure the safety of the community,” federal judge Arun Subramanian said in an order.
Subramanian also denied Combs’s application to be released from detention to prepare his defence.
“Combs has not carried his burden of demonstrating that release from detention is necessary for trial-preparation purposes,” the judge wrote.
Federal prosecutors allege that Combs, 55, sexually abused women and coerced them into drug-fueled sex parties using threats and violence.
He has pleaded not guilty to all charges, and his criminal trial is currently slated to begin on May 5, 2025.
Wednesday’s ruling follows a court appearance by Combs at the end of last week.
Outside the Manhattan courthouse, bystanders shouted at Combs’s mother Janice Combs, “Your son is a predator.” Other family members were seen outside the hearing.
Combs’s lawyers argued that a defendant in another prominent federal sex trafficking case, former Abercrombie CEO Mike Jeffries, received bail, which should apply to their client.
Prosecutors wrote to the court, “The nature and circumstances of the offenses are substantially different.
“There are no allegations that Jeffries committed non-trafficking-related violent acts or that he used firearms during the charged period. The indictment against Combs alleges both.
“With respect to the charged offenses, Jeffries does not include a racketeering offense. By contrast, Combs is charged with leading a racketeering enterprise.”
Prosecutors have previously indicated there is still more evidence to explore and that more charges could be added to the indictment against Combs.
Public allegations have been building against the Grammy winner since late last year, when singer Cassie, whose real name is Casandra Ventura, alleged Combs subjected her to more than a decade of coercion by physical force and drugs as well as a 2018 rape.
