S Poddar
Sean “Diddy” Combs was denied bail for a third time by a judge in New York City, denying him release as he stands for serious charges such as racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation for prostitution. The ruling means Diddy remains detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn under court orders.
The repeated denials of bail by the court have been based on apprehensions that the accused would tamper with witnesses. Judge Arun Subramanian stated that Mr. Combs poses a huge risk if released, especially since prosecutors presented evidence that he had already attempted to influence witnesses and manipulate the legal process.
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,” Judge Subramanian declared in his ruling.
Allegations of Witness Tampering and Misconduct
Prosecutors have asserted that Mr. Combs abused his time in jail to reach witnesses and public opinion. They said he abused a federal inmate messaging application known as ContactMeASAP. This is an application in which inmates can send texts immediately, and authorities say that the two accounts he kept had contacted people not on his list of approved contacts including attorneys and others potentially connected to his case.
Defense attorneys have argued that Mr. Combs be granted bail so that he could prepare adequately for his scheduled May 2025 trial. The prosecution, however, argued that the clear risk of obstruction of justice can be seen in his actions.
Recently, a new filing charged that Mr. Combs was coercing those close to him to make social media posts that could influence the public. Prosecutors provided an example where his children supposedly posted a video celebrating someone’s birthday, which prosecutors believe was intended to sway potential jurors.
Attorney Lisa Bloom, who represents Dawn Richard in her civil lawsuit against Mr. Combs, echoed those concerns. She told BBC Newsnight that one witness accused her client of lying, with phone records allegedly showing over 100 points of contact between this individual and Mr. Combs while he was in jail.
The strong implication there is that he talked her into making those statements, perhaps gave her money. We don’t know. But that would be witness tampering,” Ms. Bloom said.
Legal Setbacks and Confiscated Documents
In a different case, Judge Subramanian also instructed prosecutors to destroy almost 20 pages of documents found during a search of the jail cell of Mr. Combs. These consisted of handwritten notes that outline the legal strategies and communications between the defendant and his attorneys.
The attorney-client privilege is an important legal right that ensures confidential communication between an attorney and his or her client. Mr. Combs’s lawyers argued the search violated this right, but prosecutors argued privilege didn’t apply because Mr. Combs had used the documents to obstruct justice and intimidate witnesses.
Widening Investigations and Civil Suits
The prosecutors have stated that their investigations are still ongoing and additional charges or defendants may surface.
Ms. Bloom also said that others might be held liable by law. “He didn’t do this by himself,” she said. “He had an operation where people were brought in by others. We think it’s very important that not only do predators get brought to justice, but also those who conspire with them or are complicit.”
In addition to criminal charges, Mr. Combs is battling more than two dozen civil lawsuits. The allegations include coercion, abuse of men and women, blackmail involving recorded sexual encounters, threats against witnesses, and physical violence. Several accusers were reportedly minors at the time of the alleged incidents.
Mr. Combs has consistently denied all accusations and pleaded not guilty to the criminal charges.
Attempts to Secure Release
The defense team for Mr. Combs had previously offered a $50 million bail package that included house arrest and forbade female visitors. Even after agreeing to sell his Los Angeles and Miami mansions to fund the bond, the court rejected it as being insufficient to reduce the risks.
As the trial date nears, the case is extremely contentious, with both sides preparing for what looks like a closely watched battle in court. Prosecutors continue to argue that evidence and risks justify the detention of Mr. Combs, while his defense insists he needs this time to prepare himself adequately for his day in court.
