Embattled hip-hop icon and producer Sean "Diddy" Combs has been denied bail for a third time as he faces charges of sex trafficking and racketeering. A federal judge, Arun Subramanian, ruled against the motion, stating that no conditions could ensure the safety of the community.
“For the following reasons, Combs’s motion is DENIED—no condition or combination of conditions will reasonably assure the safety of the community,” Judge Subramanian declared in his order.
The decision comes amid allegations that Diddy, 55, contacted witnesses and used unauthorized communication methods while in custody. Prosecutors argued this posed a significant risk to the case.
Federal prosecutors accuse Combs of sexually exploiting women through coercion, threats, and violence, forcing them into drug-fueled sex parties. The charges also allege his involvement in leading a racketeering enterprise and using firearms during the period of the offenses.
Although his legal team argued for his release to prepare for his defense, Judge Subramanian dismissed the request, stating Combs failed to prove the necessity of such a measure. The Grammy-winning artist has pleaded not guilty, with his trial set for May 5, 2025.
Outside the Manhattan courthouse, the scene was tense. Bystanders confronted Diddy’s mother, Janice Combs, with accusations, while other family members attended the hearing.
In their defense, Combs’s lawyers compared his case to that of former Abercrombie CEO Mike Jeffries, who was granted bail in a separate federal sex trafficking case. However, prosecutors countered, highlighting stark differences between the cases.
“The offenses are substantially different,” they noted. “Jeffries is not accused of violent acts or leading a racketeering enterprise, unlike Combs.”
The charges against Diddy are part of a growing wave of public allegations that began late last year when singer Cassie (Casandra Ventura) accused him of over a decade of physical and emotional abuse, drug coercion, and a 2018 rape.
