November 28th 2024.
Famous rapper and music producer Sean "Diddy" Combs will have to remain in jail for now, as his latest attempt to be released has been rejected by a judge. Combs is currently facing charges of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy, and is awaiting trial.
The decision to deny Combs' motion for release was made by Judge Arun Subramanian on Wednesday, following a two-hour court hearing last Friday. During the hearing, the judge explored potential options and questioned the prosecution's allegation that Combs had been obstructing the ongoing investigation.
In a five-page order, the judge wrote, "The court finds that the government has shown by clear and convincing evidence that no condition or combination of conditions will reasonably assure the safety of the community." CNN reached out to Combs' representatives for a comment, but has not received a response.
The federal prosecutors argued that Combs should not be trusted on bail, as he had previously flouted the rules of the jail and the judge. They also claimed that he posed a danger to women and had been tampering with witnesses, even while in federal custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center.
According to the prosecutors, Combs had been trying to evade law enforcement monitoring by using various techniques, such as three-way calling, to contact witnesses. They also accused him of violating the judge's order limiting communication, and disregarding the advice of his lawyers by orchestrating a social media campaign around his birthday in an attempt to influence the potential jury pool.
The judge pointed to evidence that Combs had not been following the rules of the jail, including his continued use of a messaging service, in his decision to deny bail. "Underscoring the Court's concern, despite defence counsel's assurances to the Court...that Combs stopped using ContactMeASAP as of November 16, 2024, the government indicates that Combs has continued to use this service as recently as this past Sunday, November 24, 2024," the judge wrote.
Combs' attorneys have been working tirelessly to secure his release from federal custody. They argued that Combs would have more restrictions if he were under private security rather than in jail. They also stated that he needed to be free in order to help prepare for his defence against the criminal charges and roughly 30 civil lawsuits alleging sexual abuse.
The defence team identified a three-bedroom apartment on Manhattan's Upper East Side as a potential location for Combs to stay, surrounded by 24/7 security to monitor visits and phone calls. They also proposed that Combs post a US$50 million bond as part of his bail package.
However, during the hearing on Friday, the judge dismissed the idea of Combs staying at his home in Miami, stating that it "not going to work." The hip-hop mogul was arrested in September and charged with sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, and prostitution-related charges. He has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to go to trial on May 5.
This is not the first time Combs has been denied bail by federal judges. Two previous judges also found that there were no conditions that would assure them that he would not try to obstruct the investigation or be a threat to the community. Combs initially appealed one of these rulings, but later asked the appeals court to put it on hold while he tried again with Judge Subramanian, who was transferred the case.
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