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A federal judge has decided to order Sean “Diddy” Combs to be held in custody as he awaits trial for serious criminal charges. Prosecutors raised concerns that Combs might attempt to escape the country or interfere with the ongoing investigation into sex trafficking allegations against him.
Magistrate Judge Robyn Tarnofsky ruled against granting Combs bail during a session held in a Manhattan federal courtroom.
The judge referenced Combs’s purported history of violent behavior, which prosecutors characterized as “both spontaneous and premeditated.”
“I don’t know that you can control yourself,” Tarnofsky remarked during the hearing.
Combs has been indicted with charges including sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, and the transportation of individuals for illegal prostitution. According to the indictment, he allegedly coerced victims into participating in elaborate sexual performances known as “Freak Offs,” which he recorded. Assistant US Attorney Emily Anne Johnson informed the court this week that prosecutors have already obtained some of the related video evidence via search warrants.
Dressed in casual attire, Combs was taken into custody at a hotel just before 8:30 p.m. on Monday. He was escorted into the courtroom by US marshals, showing signs of restlessness during the proceedings.
Throughout much of the hearing, Combs maintained a neutral demeanor while sipping from a water bottle. If convicted on the current charges, he could potentially face a life sentence.
During the hearing, Combs entered a plea of not guilty to all charges laid against him.
Combs’s attorney, Marc Agnifilo, put forth a proposal that included a $50 million bail package aimed at securing his release prior to trial. He presented a collection of six passports, asserting that they belonged to Combs and other family members, and mentioned Combs’s intention to sell his private jet to demonstrate he poses no flight risk.
Prosecutors responded by requesting that Combs remain in jail, highlighting that he potentially uses his considerable wealth to evade accountability for his actions. They likened him to high-profile figures like Jeffrey Epstein and R. Kelly, who were denied bail under similar charges.
Known not only as a successful rapper and producer but also as an entrepreneur with an estimated net worth of around $1 billion, Combs’s financial resources could enable him to flee if desired, according to prosecutorial arguments.
“If the defendant wanted to flee, he has the money, manpower, and tools to do so quickly and without detection,” prosecutors noted in their filings.
Diddy’s Alleged Interference with Witnesses
Agnifilo asserted that Combs had been transparent about his whereabouts throughout the investigation, avoiding international travel and even notifying authorities when participating in recreational activities like whitewater rafting.
Conversely, prosecutors contended that if released, Combs might engage in witness tampering. They claimed that he and his associates have reached out to witnesses in the case, attempting to manipulate their accounts, including inducing them to alter their narratives.
The vast majority of the proposed bond was backed by Combs’s Miami residence, valued at $48 million.
His legal team insisted that Combs has never avoided confrontation and will not commence doing so now.
Earlier incidents highlighted in the courtroom included a 2016 altercation where Combs reportedly assaulted a woman and subsequently tried to pay off security personnel to remain silent about the encounter.
Agnifilo sought to portray the “Freak Offs” and Combs’s former relationship with singer Cassie Ventura as consensual, framing their 10-year relationship as characterized by mutual challenges.
He suggested that Ventura had sought a substantial financial settlement from Combs as a means to secure silence regarding their past, alluding to an uptick in lawsuits following a prior settlement Combs reached with her.
Prosecutors cautioned that Combs’s alleged abusive conduct has persisted, arguing that no bail conditions could adequately mitigate the risk he poses to those around him, given his tendency towards sudden violence.
Combs’s situation continues to unfold as the legal proceedings progress, with the stakes high for all parties involved.
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