A federal judge has denied bail to music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, ordering him to remain in custody while he awaits trial on sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy charges.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Robyn F. Tarnofsky made the decision Monday after a hearing where prosecutors argued that Combs posed a flight risk and a danger to witnesses.
Combs, 54, pleaded not guilty to the charges. His attorneys had proposed a $50 million bond, arguing that Combs voluntarily surrendered and poses no flight risk.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Johnson told the court, “Mr. Combs physically and sexually abused victims for decades. He used the vast resources of his company to facilitate his abuse and cover up his crimes.”
Johnson cited a 2016 video allegedly showing Combs assaulting a woman in a California hotel. She argued this incident demonstrated Combs’ attempt to obstruct justice by trying to bribe a security officer and the subsequent disappearance of the video from hotel servers.
Defense attorney Marc Agnifilo countered that Combs “did the exact opposite of what we see defendants do when they’re presented with problems in the court” by coming to New York in anticipation of the charges.
Agnifilo acknowledged Combs’ imperfections, stating, “He is not a perfect person. There has been drug use. He has been in toxic relationships.”
In her ruling, Judge Tarnofsky expressed “very significant concerns” about Combs’ substance abuse and “what appears to be anger issues.” She determined that alternatives to detention were insufficient given the nature of the allegations.
The indictment alleges that Combs led a criminal enterprise that recruited and groomed victims for sexual exploitation, including minors. Prosecutors claim the enterprise operated across New York, California, and Florida from 2008 to 2023.
As Combs was led out of the courtroom by marshals, he turned toward family members seated several rows back before exiting.
Outside the courthouse, Agnifilo told reporters, “Mr. Combs is a fighter, he’s going to fight this until the end, he’s innocent.” The defense team plans to appeal the decision to hold Combs without bail.
The case has sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry, with Combs facing potential life imprisonment if convicted on all charges.
The trial date has not yet been set. As the legal proceedings continue, the music industry and public await further developments in this high-profile case.
