Court records or official announcements from the U.S. District Court

Judge Denies Sean "Diddy" Combs Bail for Third Time, Citing Witness Tampering Risk

Nov 27, 2024, 10:57 PM

Sean "Diddy" Combs, the music mogul, has been denied bail for the third time by U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian as he awaits his May 2025 trial on sex trafficking and racketeering charges. The judge ruled that Combs poses a serious risk of witness tampering and cited evidence of him violating jail regulations by paying other inmates to use their phone access codes to contact third parties. Combs' attorneys had argued for his release, proposing a $50 million bail package and suggesting he be placed under house arrest in a New York City apartment. They cited President-elect Donald Trump's federal criminal case, contending that Combs' statements on social media are protected by the First Amendment and should be subject to the "most demanding scrutiny" as in Trump's case. Prosecutors opposed the bail, highlighting Combs' "decades-long pattern of violence," alleged physical abuse of personal staff, and concerns about community safety. The judge concluded that "no condition or combination of conditions will reasonably assure the safety of the community," ordering Combs to remain in custody until his trial.