NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Rap mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs will remain behind bars pending his trial on serious racketeering and sex trafficking charges, following a judge’s decision on Wednesday to deny his bail appeal.
Judge Andrew Carter upheld the previous ruling that dismissed the bail package proposed by Combs’s defense team. This package included a US$50 million bond secured by his Miami property, which the judge deemed inadequate due to Combs’s history of violence and substance abuse, as well as concerns about potential witness tampering.
“It did not go our way,” said Combs’s lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, speaking to reporters outside the federal courthouse in Manhattan. Agnifilo expressed his determination to continue advocating for Combs’s release on bail and to expedite the trial process. “Wherever he is, his resolve is the same. He believes he’s innocent,” Agnifilo asserted, adding that Combs’s current prison conditions are “inhumane.”
On Tuesday, the 54-year-old music mogul was indicted on multiple criminal charges, including allegations of sexually abusing women and coercing them into drug-fueled sex parties through threats and violence. The indictment includes charges of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transporting victims across state lines for prostitution.
Prosecutors allege that Combs led a criminal enterprise that exploited and threatened women, forcing them into sex acts under duress. This case draws comparisons to notorious figures such as Jeffrey Epstein, convicted sex cult leader Keith Raniere, and musician R. Kelly, who was sentenced to over 30 years in prison for similar crimes.
Combs has pleaded not guilty to all charges. This case marks a dramatic fall from grace for the influential artist, who was instrumental in the rise of hip-hop and is known for his work with The Notorious B.I.G. and other prominent figures in the industry.
