Disclaimer: This article contains mentions of sex crimes and assault. Reader discretion is advised.
On Wednesday, a federal judge denied Sean “Diddy” Combs‘ latest request to leave prison on bail, per ABC News. It was Combs’ fourth in recent months. Judge Arun Subramanian concluded that the music mogul, who faces multiple allegations including racketeering, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution charges, will remain in custody. Federal authorities arrested Diddy earlier this year on September 16 from a New York City hotel and he has pleaded not guilty to the counts levied against him.
New York federal judge denied Diddy’s bail after safety concerns for the community
New York federal judge Arun Subramanian denied Sean “Diddy” Combs‘ bail request, becoming the fourth to do so. He cited “clear and convincing evidence” of safety concerns for the “community.” Judge Subramanian determined that no conditions “or combination of conditions will reasonably assure the safety of the community” if Diddy is allowed to leave custody on bail. The judge further noted that there is “compelling evidence of Combs’s propensity for violence.” This was a reference to CNN’s video footage of the music producer assaulting Cassie Ventura in a hotel in 2016.
However, Diddy’s lawyer contested the video, asserting there was heavy editing and manipulation in its contents. Despite their efforts, Judge Subramanian responded that there is “clearly violence even in the version of the footage” the accused himself submitted. Not only that, the federal judge argued with the prosecution, highlighting the risks of witness tampering or manipulating potential jurors’ opinions if the “Last Night” singer gets bail. His children had previously organized a social media campaign that prosecutors alleged were “efforts to influence the jury pool.”
Sean “Diddy” Combs had offered to confine himself in an Upper East Side apartment in exchange for bail from prison. With this, he had also proposed to impose restrictions on communication and visitors and to keep 24-hour private security. However, Judge Subramanian stated that the court doubts either Diddy or those under his employment will comply with such “conditions.” Before denying Diddy’s bail request, Subramanian also pointed out “evidence supporting a serious risk of witness tampering.”
The accused will remain in jail until May 2025 as he faces dozens of lawsuits and grave charges.
