Sean “Diddy” Combs has been denied his request to await his sex trafficking trial in the comfort of his Florida mansion. U.S. District Judge Andrew L. Carter ruled that Combs’ proposal, which included a $50 million bail offer and strict limitations on visitors, was not sufficient to ensure the safety of the community and the integrity of his case.
Combs, who is facing charges of physically and sexually abusing women for years, had previously been denied bail by a federal magistrate. His lawyers made a second attempt to secure his release, but Judge Carter sided with prosecutors who argued that no conditions could guarantee that Combs wouldn’t threaten or harm witnesses.
Defense lawyer Marc Agnifilo plans to appeal Carter’s ruling and seek Combs’ release from jail. The rapper looked at family members and tapped his heart during Wednesday’s hearing before being led away by federal agents.
Combs is accused of using his power and influence to coerce female victims and male sex workers into drugged-up sexual performances known as “Freak Offs.” The events would sometimes last for days, according to the indictment.
Prosecutor Emily Johnson argued that Combs has a history of intimidating both accusers and witnesses, citing text messages where he threatened to leak videos of women engaging in sex acts. She also disputed defense claims that a 2016 assault on R&B singer Cassie was merely a lovers’ quarrel.
Agnifilo also requested that Combs be moved from the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn to a jail in New Jersey due to concerns about overcrowding and violence at the current facility.
If granted bail, Combs would have been confined to his luxurious Florida home while awaiting trial with restricted visitation rights. Many wealthy defendants have offered multimillion-dollar bails in exchange for home detention in similar circumstances.
The allegations against Combs align with those made by Cassie Ventura in a lawsuit filed last November. The suit was settled shortly after but has continued to follow him since then.
Prosecutors claim they have interviewed over 50 victims and witnesses as part of their investigation into Combs’ alleged crimes. They intend to present financial records, travel records, electronic communications, and videos as evidence during the trial.
Authorities previously raided Combs’ homes in Los Angeles and Miami earlier this year, seizing narcotics, videos related to the case, firearms with defaced serial numbers, as well as over 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant.
If convicted on all charges listed in the indictment against him,
Combs could face mandatory prison time ranging from 15 years up
to life imprisonment.
