Sean "Diddy" Combs, the hip-hop mogul facing federal sex trafficking and racketeering charges, made his third bid for bail this week, as his attorneys proposed a $50 million package secured by his Miami mansion, valued at approximately $48 million. Twice denied bail by judges citing him as a flight risk and a danger to the community, Combs remains detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn as he awaits his May 2025 trial.
Combs' defense team has suggested he reside in a New York City apartment under stringent conditions, arguing it would be "more restrictive than in the MDC." His attorney, Marc Agnifilo, stated the proposal includes three security guards and no access to phones or the internet, aside from calls with his legal team. The apartment, located on the Upper East Side, remains undisclosed, but a security inspection was conducted Tuesday to evaluate the property for potential camera placements and other safety measures.
Prosecutors have opposed the release, asserting that Combs has already sought to contact witnesses and influence the jury pool while in custody. In a letter to U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian, they alleged that he used contraband devices and other inmates' phones to orchestrate a video posted on his Instagram account, now controlled by his sons.
"The defendant's intent could not be clearer: he expressly wanted to interfere with the jury pool in this case through a targeted, public, social media post and he caused his family members to make the post," prosecutors wrote.
Defense attorneys have rejected these allegations, arguing that Combs' communications and social media activity are protected under the First Amendment. They cited his children's Instagram post wishing him a happy birthday as an example of overreach by prosecutors. "The government's arguments that asking his children to post birthday wishes on Instagram and that he is not entitled to publicly express his opinion that this prosecution is racially motivated are, quite simply, an unconstitutional effort to silence him," his lawyers wrote.
Combs' legal team also invoked a ruling from former President Donald Trump's case, where restrictions on speech were deemed valid only under a "significant and imminent threat to the administration of criminal justice." They contended that as a criminal defendant presumed innocent, Combs has a "greater constitutional claim" to public commentary.
Prosecutors countered by highlighting what they described as Combs' "long history of obstruction." They alleged he has influenced witnesses and staff, citing accounts of him threatening and assaulting individuals in his employ. "Former staff members have described the defendant threatening to kill them, throwing objects at them, and being struck, punched, and shoved by the defendant," the letter stated.
The case against Combs began last year after his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura filed a lawsuit alleging abuse and other misconduct. Although the lawsuit was quickly settled, new evidence, including video footage, emerged that appeared to corroborate her claims. Since then, over 100 individuals have reportedly come forward with similar accusations, according to attorney Tony Buzbee.
As Combs' legal battles continue, questions surrounding his public statements, allegations of obstruction, and the broader implications of the case remain at the forefront. Judge Subramanian, who has delayed a bail decision until later this week, has requested additional briefings from both sides.
The trial, set for May 2025, promises to scrutinize the intersection of power, influence, and justice in one of the entertainment industry's most high-profile criminal cases.
