Sean “Diddy” Combs was once again refused bail Wednesday (Sept. 18) in his sex abuse case, after a federal judge ruled that the indicted rapper and music executive would pose a flight risk and might intimidate witnesses if released, the AP reports.
At a hearing in Manhattan federal court, Combs’ lawyers renewed their request to let him await trial on sex trafficking and racketeering charges under house arrest at his Miami mansion, once again offering to pay a $50 million bond and submit to other strict requirements.
But just like a magistrate judge had ruled a day earlier, Judge Andrew L. Carter said Tuesday that Diddy must instead wait for the trial in a Brooklyn federal prison, citing concerns that the once-powerful executive could pose a danger to others or obstruct the government’s case.
Combs, also known as Puff Daddy and P. Diddy, was once one of the most powerful men in the music industry. But on Tuesday he was indicted by federal prosecutors over accusations of sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson and bribery. If convicted on all the charges, he potentially faces a sentence of life in prison.
In Tuesday’s indictment, prosecutors accused Combs of running a sprawling criminal operation aimed at satisfying his need for “sexual gratification.” The charges detailed “freak offs” in which Combs and others would allegedly ply victims with drugs and then coerce them into having sex with male sex workers, as well as alleged acts of violence and intimidation to keep victims silent.
“For decades, Sean Combs … abused, threatened and coerced women and others around him to fulfill his sexual desires, protect his reputation and conceal his conduct,” prosecutors wrote in the indictment. “To do so, Combs relied on the employees, resources and the influence of his multi-faceted business empire that he led and controlled.”
At his initial arraignment on Tuesday, Combs’ lawyers made their arguments to Magistrate Judge Robyn F. Tarnofsky, who ultimately denied Diddy’s request for bail. She cited, among other things, her “very significant concerns” about Combs’ substance abuse and “what appears to be anger issues,” according to the Associated Press.
A day later, the rapper’s lawyers exercised their right to renew their request for bail to Judge Carter, the full federal district judge who will be overseeing the case and the eventual jury trial.
Ahead of Wednesday’s hearing, Combs’ lawyers filed an updated “package” of bail restrictions that they said would mitigate any concerns raised by prosecutors. In addition to the $50 million bond and house arrest, they promised to submit to GPS monitoring, travel restrictions, weekly drug testing and constant monitoring of visitors. Given the nature of the allegations, they also offered to “restrict female visitors to Mr. Combs’ residence except for family, or mothers of his children.”
But the judge was once again swayed by prosecutors, who repeated their warnings that Combs was a “serial abuser” who had a history of both violence and witness intimidation, raising the prospect that he might attempt to obstruct the case against him.
