A New York judge has denied bail to Sean “Diddy” Combs, ruling the hip-hop mogul must remain in jail until his October sentencing despite being acquitted of the most serious charges.
NEW YORK — Hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs will remain behind bars after a federal judge denied his bail request Tuesday, citing the music executive’s history of violence despite his acquittal on the most severe charges in his sex crimes trial.
Judge Arun Subramanian rejected arguments from Combs’ legal team that the 54-year-old posed no flight risk, noting his private jet was currently chartered in Hawaii. The ruling means Combs will stay incarcerated at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center, where he has been held since his September 2023 arrest, until his October 3 sentencing.
The decision followed a dramatic two-month trial where prosecutors alleged Combs used his celebrity status to operate a criminal enterprise involved in sex trafficking. A jury cleared Combs of racketeering and sex trafficking charges but convicted him on one count of transportation to engage in prostitution, which carries up to 20 years in prison.
“I just think we should trust him,” defense attorney Marc Agnifilo pleaded in court, arguing his client had voluntarily attended domestic violence counseling before his arrest and had no violent incidents since 2018.
But the judge appeared swayed by a letter from Combs’ ex-girlfriend, musician Casandra Ventura, warning that the Bad Boy Records founder would remain dangerous if released. Prosecutors reinforced this argument by presenting evidence of Combs’ alleged pattern of violent behavior.