Sean “Diddy” Combs has once again been denied bail, marking the third time the embattled music mogul’s request has been rejected as he awaits trial on sex trafficking charges. The decision, handed down on Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian, cited substantial evidence of Combs being a “serious risk” of witness tampering and his efforts to bypass communication restrictions while in custody.
Subramanian issued the ruling in a five-page order following a recent bail hearing where Combs’ legal team proposed a $50 million bail package, claiming it would ensure he neither flees nor intimidates potential witnesses. However, the judge sided with prosecutors, stating that no conditions of release could sufficiently protect the public or guarantee compliance.
“There is compelling evidence of Combs’s propensity for violence,” Subramanian wrote, echoing concerns previously raised by two other judges who also denied bail.
The 55-year-old rapper has pleaded not guilty to allegations of coercing and abusing women for years with the help of associates and employees. Prosecutors allege that Combs used blackmail, violence—including kidnapping and arson—and physical beatings to silence his victims.
In his ruling, Subramanian highlighted instances where Combs allegedly violated Bureau of Prisons regulations while detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. These violations included using other inmates’ phone codes to make unauthorized calls and attempting to conceal his communications through three-way calls and deleted text messages.
Prosecutors also accused Combs of orchestrating social media campaigns from jail to influence potential jurors and leaking materials he believed could aid his defense.
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Defense lawyers argued that the alleged sexual abuse described in the indictment stemmed from consensual relationships and that new evidence undermines claims that Combs used his “power and prestige” to coerce victims into participating in what they referred to as “Freak Offs” — drug-fueled sexual performances involving male sex workers.
Subramanian, however, found the evidence of witness tampering and rule-breaking during Combs’ pretrial detention to be compelling. He noted that even after the bail hearing, Combs reportedly continued to use prohibited communication methods, further undermining the defense’s claims of improved conduct.
The judge concluded that even the strictest home confinement conditions would not mitigate the risks. “Given the nature of the allegations and Combs’s demonstrated willingness to skirt rules, the Court has no confidence that any release conditions would ensure compliance,” he wrote.
Combs’ legal team has yet to comment on the ruling. Meanwhile, an earlier appeal for immediate release was denied by a federal appeals court, with a three-judge panel still reviewing the matter.
Combs’ trial is scheduled for May, with prosecutors maintaining their stance that the rapper poses a danger to the community and should remain in custody until then.
