Kaylah Walton
Sean “Diddy” Combs was denied bail on Wednesday as he prepares for a trial in May on sex trafficking charges. The judge stated that Combs poses a significant risk of tampering with witnesses and has attempted to conceal unauthorized communications from jail.
U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian made this ruling in a detailed order after a bail hearing last week. During the hearing, Combs’ legal team had proposed a $50 million bail package, arguing that it would adequately ensure he does not flee or intimidate potential witnesses.
Two previous judges had already sided with prosecutors who argued that the Bad Boy Records founder would pose a danger if released. Subramanian agreed, noting that strong evidence indicates Combs has a tendency toward violence.
“The evidence suggests a pattern of Combs‘s violent behavior,” the judge stated.
Combs’ attorneys did not respond immediately to inquiries about the ruling, and prosecutors opted not to comment.
At 55, Combs has entered a plea of not guilty to accusations of coercing and abusing women for years with the help of his associates and employees. The indictment claims he used threats, including kidnapping, arson, and physical violence, to silence his victims.
Last month, a federal appeals court rejected Combs‘ request for immediate release while a panel of judges at the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan reviews the bail situation. This appeal is currently on hold as Subramanian, who was assigned to the case after the prior judge withdrew, examines the bail request.
Subramanian reviewed all arguments and supporting evidence anew to reach his decision.
Prosecutors argue that no conditions can ensure public safety or prevent the “I’ll Be Missing You” singer from attempting to flee.
They claim Combs has engaged in social media campaigns from his jail cell to sway potential jurors and has attempted to leak information he believes might help his defense. Furthermore, they assert he has reached out to potential witnesses through third parties.
Combs’ lawyers maintain that the alleged sexual misconduct outlined in the indictment resulted from consensual encounters between adults and assert that fresh evidence contradicts claims that he exploited his influence to lead women into drug-fueled sexual performances with male sex workers referred to as “Freak Offs.”
Subramanian indicated there is clear evidence that Combs is a “serious risk of witness tampering,” especially after he communicated with a grand jury witness over the summer and deleted pertinent texts.
The judge also mentioned that Combs violated Bureau of Prisons rules while in pretrial detention at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, by compensating other inmates to use their phone access to reach out to unauthorized individuals.
Further, he noted that Combs instructed family and legal representatives to add others to three-way calls to obscure communications and attempted to influence jury members or contact potential witnesses.
Subramanian concluded that Combs’ tendency to bypass prison regulations to hide his communications demonstrates that any release conditions would likely not deter similar conduct.
He remarked that the defense’s claims about Combs discontinuing specific phone tactics criticized by prosecutors were contradicted by the fact that Combs appeared to use those same methods just two days after his bail hearing.
Even a bail arrangement involving strict home confinement was deemed inadequate by the judge.
“Considering the serious nature of the charges against Combs and the information provided by the government, the Court has reservations about the effectiveness of any release conditions that depend on Combs and his associates, such as a private security detail, to comply,” Subramanian wrote.
