Sean “Diddy” Combs will remain behind bars as he awaits trial, following a federal judge’s decision to deny his latest request for bail. U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian rejected Combs’ $50 million bail package on Wednesday, citing concerns over his alleged history of violence, witness tampering, and efforts to evade communication restrictions.
In his ruling, Judge Subramanian determined that “no conditions of release can assure the safety of the community,” referencing evidence of Combs’ violent behavior, including allegations of firearms use, kidnapping, and arson. The ruling also highlighted Combs’ alleged use of his business empire to intimidate victims and witnesses.
Evidence of Violence and Witness Tampering
The court noted specific evidence of Combs’ violent history, including a 2016 video showing him assaulting his then-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, at a Los Angeles hotel. Text messages from Ventura after the incident revealed severe injuries, with her writing, “I have a black eye and a fat lip. I still have crazy bruising.”
In addition to the allegations of violence, the ruling detailed evidence of witness tampering. Combs reportedly communicated with Ventura, who was subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury, and deleted messages between them to conceal the exchanges. Phone records showed that the two exchanged multiple messages from June to August, but the content was unrecoverable from Combs’ phone.
Combs also violated prison regulations to obscure his communications. According to the court, he paid other inmates to use their phone access codes and instructed his family and lawyers to engage in three-way calls to avoid monitoring. Judge Subramanian emphasized that these actions demonstrated Combs’ “willingness to skirt” rules, making it impossible to trust any conditions of release.
Allegations of a Criminal Enterprise
Federal prosecutors allege that Combs has been at the center of a criminal enterprise since at least 2008, using his businesses to facilitate the trafficking and assault of women. The indictment details events known as “Freak Offs,” during which commercial sex workers were allegedly coerced into extended acts of sexual violence that were recorded and could last for days.
The government argues that Combs’ actions have endangered public safety and obstructed the judicial process. Prosecutors also claim he used unauthorized messaging apps and coerced family members to write public messages intended to influence potential jurors.
Defense Pushback
Combs’ defense team, led by attorney Marc Agnifilo, has argued that prosecutors unfairly seized attorney-client privileged materials during a raid of Combs’ jail cell. Although the court ordered the deletion of certain images of Combs’ handwritten notes, Judge Subramanian maintained that the evidence of violence and tampering outweighed the defense’s claims.
This marks the third time Combs has been denied bail, with previous rulings citing similar concerns about witness tampering and public safety risks.
What’s Next?
As Combs remains in custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, his trial date has yet to be announced. The case continues to draw significant public and legal scrutiny as the charges against the music mogul expose allegations of widespread criminal activity within his vast businesses.
