Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs will remain in jail until his sex trafficking trial in May 2025 after he voluntarily dismissed his bail appeal on Friday.
The disgraced rapper — who was recently granted access to a laptop in prison – made the withdrawal after his latest bail appeal, per court documents obtained by People.
It comes just weeks after Combs, 55, was denied bail for the third time before the Thanksgiving holiday. His previous two requests made in September were also denied.
That same month, the music mogul was arrested in Manhattan and is currently being held at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center.
He has notably been charged with sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution, but has pleaded not guilty to all charges ahead of the trial set for May 5.
Late last month, US District Judge Arun Subramanian made the decision to deny Diddy’s request for bail following a hearing.
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, 55, will remain in jail until his sex trafficking trial in May 2025 after he voluntarily dismissed his bail appeal on Friday; seen in 2020 in Beverly Hills
At the time, lawyers for the rapper argued that a $50 million bail package they proposed would be sufficient to ensure Combs does not flee and does not try to intimidate prospective trial witnesses.
Subramanian cited direct evidence of Combs’ violence — referring to Diddy beating ex Cassie in a 2016 hotel surveillance video — and a serious risk of witness tampering in the denial.
The ruling read: ‘The Court finds that the government has shown by clear and convincing evidence that no condition or combination of conditions will reasonably assure the safety of the community.’
Prosecutors had previously said Combs had been ‘witness tampering’ from behind bars with Subramanian agreeing and saying: ‘There is evidence supporting a serious risk of witness tampering.’
The judge also cited evidence that Diddy violated communication behind bars rules including paying for inmates’ Phone Access Code numbers to make three way calls to people who are not on his approved contact list.
‘Compelling evidence of Combs’s propensity for violence’ was also cited in the decision.
Combs had asked to be released on on $50 million bond and on 24/7 house arrest, even offering up his mother’s house as collateral.
Two other judges previously had been persuaded by prosecutors’ arguments that the Bad Boy Records founder was a danger to the community if he is not behind bars.
It comes just weeks after Combs was denied bail for the third time before the Thanksgiving holiday. His previous two requests made in September were also denied; seen in 2023 in Atlanta
That same month, the music mogul was arrested in Manhattan and is currently being held at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center (seen above)
Diddy appeared before a federal judge in New York last month and was supported by his family in court.
He was not shackled after his lawyers claimed that doing so offended the ‘dignity’ of the court.
Diddy began smiling when he saw seven members of his family in the second row of the public gallery including his mother Janice, 83, who was wearing sunglasses, adopted son Quincy, 33, Justin, 30, King, Chance, 18 and his twin daughters D’Lila and Jessie, 17.
He blew them kisses, formed a prayer sign with his hands and tapped his heart.
After being denied bail once again, Combs was granted access to a laptop to assist in his defense earlier this week, court documents have revealed.
Currently behind bars for a litany of charges that include sex trafficking, the rapper will not be able to access the internet, officials said.
Judge Arun Subramanian made the allowance Thursday, in an order he issued himself in the Southern District of New York.
The demand for a laptop is only the latest from the disgraced producer’s team, who have already asked the high-profile be allowed to appear unshackled for all future court appearances.
Subramanian cited direct evidence of Combs’ violence – referring to Diddy beating ex Cassie in a 2016 hotel surveillance video – and a serious risk of witness tampering in the denial; Diddy depicted in court in September
That request was denied, unlike the recent plea for the in-cell laptop. An additional request for him to be freed ahead of his trial was tossed in November.
Subramanian’s decision served as a small victory for Combs, allowing him to use the court-sanctioned computer some seven days a week, from the hours of 8am to 3:30pm.
During that time, he will only be allowed to use the device only to review both sides’ discovery – the formal process of exchanging information between parties about the witnesses and evidence they plan to present at trial.
‘The purpose of the Discovery Laptop is to review discovery, not to take or store notes,’ Judge Subramanian wrote.
‘It is the Court’s understanding that the laptop has been pre-loaded with discovery materials but does not allow any functionality beyond reviewing those materials.
‘If [the] defendant wished for roader access to the Discovery Laptop, his counsel should discuss the issue with the government.
‘If there are further disputes, the Court will consider adjustments to this order,’ Subramanian concluded, now set to oversee the high-profile case two years into his tenure in the Southern District.
The new development caused anger among people online, specifically pointed at the judge.
Diddy appeared before a federal judge in New York last month and was supported by his family in court; King Combs, D’Lila Combs, and Jessie Combs seen above in November at Manhattan federal court
After being denied bail once again, Combs was granted access to a laptop to assist in his defense earlier this week, court documents have revealed; seen in 2023 in London
One person wrote: ‘Booo that judge is trippin’ he does not need his d**n laptop,’ and another added: ‘WHY ON EARTH GIVE Diddy a laptop in jail.’
Comb’s lawyer Marc Agnifilo recently penned a letter to the jurist to claim his client had not been receiving the same treatments as his prison-mates in Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC).
As Diddy sits behind bars awaiting the trail next year, fellow music artist Jay-Z was recently accused of raping a 13-year-old girl with Combs back in 2000.
In the lawsuit, an anonymous victim claimed that she had been assaulted by Jay-Z and Diddy at a party after the MTV Video Music Awards in September 2020.
The rapper has since condemned and vehemently denied the accusations, breaking his silence in a lengthy statement over the past weekend on Sunday.
The lawsuit is one of many that was filed by attorney Tony Buzbee in October – who has also claimed more than 100 alleged victims were planning legal action against Combs.
However, Jay-Z slammed Buzbee, labeling the attorney as a ‘deplorable human’ and an ‘ambulance chaser in a cheap suit.’
He added that the allegations are ‘so heinous in nature that I implore you to file a criminal complaint, not a civil one!!’
Comb’s lawyer Marc Agnifilo recently penned a letter to the jurist to claim his client had not been receiving the same treatments as his prison-mates in Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center; seen in 2022 in L.A.
As Diddy sits behind bars awaiting the trail next year, fellow music artist Jay-Z was recently accused of raping a 13-year-old girl with Combs back in 2000; the pair seen in 2004 in L.A.
The rapper then expressed that his ‘heartbreak’ is with his loved ones and stated, ‘My wife and I will have to sit our children down.’
‘One of whom is at the age where her friends will surely see the press and ask questions about the nature of these claims, and explain the cruelty and greed of people. I mourn yet another loss of innocence.’
He also later added, ‘My heart and support goes out to true victims in the world, who have to watch how their life story is dressed in costume for profitability by this ambulance chaser in a cheap suit…’
In conclusion, he further slammed the claims and said, ‘I look forward to showing you just how different I am.’
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