Sean “Diddy” Combs will remain behind bars until his sex trafficking trial in May 2025. The defense’s third attempt to free the 54-year-old music mogul was rejected on Wednesday. It’s been an eventful two weeks in the federal case against the founder of Bad Boy Records.
Combs’ attorneys had denied bail twice before and proposed a detailed $50 million package in hopes of freeing their client. The latest offer included house arrest with GPS monitoring in a New York City apartment, an approved list of guests – where reportedly no female visitors were allowed except family members – and him being watched 24/7 by private security . The government has been strongly opposed to this because they have accused Combs of witness tampering, even behind bars, and believe he is a danger to others.
U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian sided with prosecutors after deliberating on the decision for days. He was originally scheduled to rule on the case at a hearing on November 22.
Trusted news and daily treats, straight to your inbox
See for yourself: The Yodel is the source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories.
“The Court finds that the government has demonstrated by clear and convincing evidence that no condition or combination of conditions can reasonably ensure the safety of the community,” Subramanian wrote, denying Combs’ request for bail.
Combs’ handwritten jail notes were the subject of a heated hearing last week. Prosecutors gained access to them after an Oct. 28 search of the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn. The government claimed this showed the entrepreneur was trying to pay off jailhouse witnesses. Combs’ defense team argued that the notes viewed were “privileged attorney-client material” as they contained their legal strategy.
Judge Subramanian said at the Nov. 19 hearing that he would investigate whether the notes contained privileged information, which could take weeks, but that he would not consider the notes when deciding the bail issue. However, he had some questions for the defense at the Nov. 22 hearing about whether they would retroactively write “legal” on the relevant notes at the top of the hearing. The defense said they were trying to figure out when some notes said “legal,” according to Inner City Press.
Combs remaining behind bars is no surprise. Legal experts previously told Yahoo Entertainment that it was likely the judge would uphold the previous rulings as the circumstances have not drastically changed.
On September 16, Combs was arrested by federal agents at a Manhattan hotel and charged with racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution, according to the federal indictment. He is accused of using his wealth and power to run a “criminal enterprise” through his company, including attempting to engage in “forced labor, kidnapping, arson, bribery and obstruction of justice.” Combs, who also faces a barrage of civil lawsuits alleging sexual assault, has pleaded not guilty and maintains his innocence.
