Sean "Diddy" Combs, the 55-year-old hip-hop mogul, has been denied bail for the third time as he faces charges related to sex trafficking and racketeering.
The latest decision comes ahead of his highly anticipated trial, with prosecutors citing significant concerns about his continued risk of witness tampering and violence.
Diddy, who was arrested in September 2024, appeared before U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian, who ruled against his release from the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn. Despite Diddy's legal team proposing a $50 million bail package, the judge cited compelling evidence of his violent tendencies and ongoing attempts to influence witnesses.
One of the key pieces of evidence cited in the court ruling was a 2016 hotel surveillance video, which allegedly shows Diddy physically assaulting his ex-girlfriend, Cassie. Prosecutors also presented evidence of his communication violations while incarcerated, including paying for unauthorized calls to manipulate potential witnesses.
Diddy’s legal defense team, led by attorney Anthony Ricco, has argued that the accusations against him are part of a "theatrical spin" by the prosecution. However, federal prosecutors maintain that no set of bail conditions would ensure public safety, citing Diddy's documented history of witness tampering, including paying a female witness to post positive statements about him on social media.
The trial, which is set for May 2025, involves allegations of a decade-long criminal enterprise in which women were allegedly drugged and forced into sexual acts at high-profile parties. In addition to the criminal case, Diddy is facing over 100 civil lawsuits, including one accusing him of drugging and raping a woman at a "White Party" in the Hamptons.
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