American rap mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs will remain in custody after his third attempt to secure bail was denied by U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian.
The decision came following a two-hour hearing, on Wednesday, November 27th, with the judge emphasizing concerns over the safety of the community and alleged interference in the ongoing investigation.
“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,” the judge wrote in a five-page order.
In previous times, Diddy’s defense team has put together a number of bail packages with specific requirements to calm the judge and prosecutors’ worries about possible flight risk and evidence of witness tampering. The two most recent suggestions involved Diddy being held on a private island or staying in a New York City Upper East Side apartment with private security guards.
That is not going to work, U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian told the defense team in court. Echoing that worry in his written decision, he wrote: “However, given the nature of the allegations in this case and the information provided by the government, the Court doubts the sufficiency of any conditions that place trust in Combs and individuals in his employ—like a private security detail—to follow those conditions.”
He went into additional detail about his decision and the case’s progress in the most recent court filing. Subramanian emphasized the seriousness of the accusations, which include sex trafficking, made against Diddy. Additionally, Judge pointed out that the prosecution “presented direct evidence of Combs’s violence.”
Prosecutors also presented evidence of witness tampering, further complicating the defense’s efforts. The government highlighted Combs’ alleged use of unauthorized prison communications to contact witnesses, claiming he paid other inmates to use their phone access codes to obscure these interactions.
The prosecution’s case includes video evidence reportedly showing Diddy physically assaulting his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, in a hotel hallway. While Combs has denied the allegations, he previously issued a public statement taking “responsibility” for his actions in that incident.
Prosecutors also raised concerns about Combs’ communication with an individual identified as “Witness-1,” who was subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury in June 2024. Subramanian’s ruling noted a “serious risk” of further obstruction.
The judge wrote: “There is evidence that Combs violated Bureau of Prisons regulations during his pretrial detention to obscure his communications with third parties. He paid other inmates to use their Phone Access Code (PAC) numbers to make calls to those not on his approved contact list.”
This marks the third time a federal judge has denied Combs’ pre-trial release. In October, a federal appeals court judge also rejected his request for immediate release. With the trial now set for May 2025, Diddy’s legal battles are far from over, as both sides prepare for what promises to be a high-profile case.
Diddy’s attorney, Marc Agnifilo, remains resolute in his client’s defense. “We’re going to fight this case with everything we have, as is he, and eventually, he’s going to be shown to be innocent,” Agnifilo said.