Rap mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs will continue to be held in custody pending his trial on serious racketeering and sex trafficking charges, following a judge’s rejection of his bail appeal on Wednesday.
Judge Andrew Carter affirmed the decision from the previous day, stating that the bail package offered by Combs’s defense— which included a US$50 million bond backed by his Miami property— was inadequate given the gravity of the charges, Combs’s history of violent behavior, substance abuse, and concerns about potential witness tampering.
Combs’s attorney, Marc Agnifilo, expressed disappointment outside the federal courthouse in Manhattan, acknowledging the setback but reaffirming their commitment to securing Combs’s release. “It did not go our way,” Agnifilo said. “We will continue to fight for his bail and push for the trial to proceed as swiftly as possible.”
Agnifilo criticized the conditions of Combs’s detention, describing them as “inhumane,” and emphasized that Combs maintains his innocence, stating, “Wherever he is, his resolve is the same.”
On Tuesday, Combs, 54, was indicted on three counts including sexual abuse of women and coercing them into drug-fueled sex parties through threats and violence. The indictment also includes charges of racketeering conspiracy and transporting victims across state lines for prostitution.
Prosecutors allege that Combs led a criminal enterprise that exploited and threatened women to force them into sexual acts, using violence, financial manipulation, and reputational threats.
Comparisons have been drawn between Combs’s alleged crimes and those of notorious figures such as Jeffrey Epstein, Keith Raniere, and R. Kelly, all of whom have faced severe legal consequences for similar offenses.
This situation marks a dramatic fall from grace for Combs, a seminal figure in hip-hop who played a pivotal role in its commercialization and mentored a number of influential artists, including The Notorious B.I.G.
