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Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sean 'Diddy' Combs denied bail after $50 million bond request
Sean "Diddy" Combs, who remains jailed ahead of his October sentencing, has been denied bail again after the rapper and his legal team requested that he be released on a $50 million bond. U.S. District Court Judge Arun Subramanian, who presided over Combs' landmark sex-trafficking trial in Manhattan court, denied Combs' renewed attempt in an order filed Monday, Aug. 4. Combs' attorneys asked the judge in a July 29 filing to release Combs on the multimillion-dollar bond and allow him to live in his Miami mansion — instead of the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn — as he awaits sentencing. Subramanian said in the order that the embattled hip-hop mogul, who was convicted in July on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, has failed to "meet his burden by clear and convincing evidence" of demonstrating that he won't be a danger to the public, or flee, if released. The judge also cited his recent ruling that denied Combs' immediate release after the conclusion of his criminal trial on July 2, which highlighted Combs' past history of domestic violence. "Increasing the amount of the bond or devising additional conditions doesn't change the calculus given the circumstances and heavy burden of proof that Combs bears," Subramanian wrote. At the time of his July 2 order requiring Combs to remain in custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center, Subramanian referenced the testimony of Combs' anonymous ex-girlfriend "Jane," which included harrowing claims that Combs choked and dragged her during an argument in June 2024, when Combs was aware of the active federal investigation into his conduct. Subramanian also noted that Combs' team admitted, "We own the domestic violence," regarding Combs' other ex, R&B singer Casandra "Cassie" Ventura Fine, and her allegations of long-term abuse. "It is impossible for the defendant to demonstrate by clear and convincing evidence that he poses no danger," Subramanian explained. Combs' latest bail denial comes after the Grammy-winning rapper filed another request with the court contesting his trial verdict, which also saw Combs be acquitted on top charges of racketeering and sex trafficking. Diddy requests overturn of conviction or new trial In the July 30 motion, Combs' attorneys asked the court to either overturn his conviction or grant him a new trial, according to legal documents reviewed by USA TODAY. The Bad Boy Records founder's legal team once again argued that use of the Mann Act (aka the White-Slave Traffic Act), which makes it illegal to transport people across state or international lines for the purpose of prostitution, "in these circumstances is unprecedented" and raises concerns about "discriminatory enforcement." "Mr. Combs, at most, paid to engage in voyeurism as part of a 'swingers' lifestyle. That does not constitute 'prostitution' under a properly limited definition of the statutory term," Combs' team wrote. In the Aug. 4 order, Judge Subramanian referenced Combs' lawyers' argument but noted past evidence presented on the rapper's physical and sexual abuse of exes "Jane" and Ventura Fine. "Combs may contend at sentencing that this evidence should be discounted and that what happened was nothing more than a case of willing 'swingers' utilizing the voluntary services of escorts for their mutual pleasure," Subramanian wrote. But "the government takes the opposite view," he added. "That Cassie Ventura and Jane were beaten, coerced, threatened, lied to, and victimized by Combs as part of their participation in these events." (This story has been updated to add new information.) Contributing: Jay Stahl, KiMi Robinson, Aysha Bagchi and Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAY This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Diddy bond: Sean Combs denied bail again after $50M request Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
06-08-2025
- Yahoo
Sean Combs ordered to stay in jail until sentencing, judge denies latest bail request
Diddy must remain in jail until his October sentencing, after he was convicted of two counts related to prostitution in a high-profile Points A judge denied Sean Combs' latest bail request following his conviction earlier this year. The rapper must remain in jail until his October sentencing. Combs was arrested last September, before being convicted on two prostitution-related his conviction on two prostitution-related charges following a high-profile trial, rapper Sean "Diddy" Combs' bail request has again been denied by a judge. Judge Arun Subramanian said Monday that Combs, 55, must remain in jail and can't go home ahead of his October sentencing, after he was previously acquitted on major charges related to racketeering and sex trafficking, but convicted on a pair of transportation to engage in prostitution charges — which carry a potential sentence of 10 years. In denying the $50-million bond, Subramanian noted that Combs did not prove that he didn't pose a flight risk, and he didn't provide an 'exceptional circumstance' justifying his release until sentencing, per the Associated Press. Per AP News, the judge additionally said that Combs "might have traction in a case that didn't involve evidence of violence, coercion or subjugation in connection with the acts of prostitution at issue, but the record here contains evidence of all three." Combs' team argued that there could be significant danger for Combs at the Metropolitan Detention Center in New York, where he's being held, and, in addition to the $50 million bond, proposed travel restrictions and house arrest at the entertainer's home in Miami. The prosecution opposed the move, writing that Combs' 'extensive history of violence — and his continued attempt to minimize his recent violent conduct — demonstrates his dangerousness," per AP News. Subramanian previously denied another of Combs' bail requests at a hearing hours after a 12-person jury delivered their verdict in the case. Federal prosecutors first accused Combs of leading a criminal enterprise that "abused, threatened, and coerced women and others around him to fulfill his sexual desires, protect his reputation, and conceal his conduct," per to the indictment. The surrounding trail drew significant media coverage, particularly revolving around the prosecution's star witness, Combs' ex-girlfriend and recording artist Cassie Ventura. Ventura tearfully testified that she experienced Combs' alleged "freak-offs," which were described as voyeuristic, drug-fueled sex marathons with male escorts that Ventura claimed were facilitated by Combs. Combs' lawyers maintained that the sexual acts in question were consensual. Before the trial, Ventura launched a 2023 lawsuit that preceded a federal investigation into Combs, She additionally testified about a 2016 incident that was caught and widely circulated on video, which showed her former partner assaulting her inside a hotel. Entertainment Weekly has reached out to legal representatives for Combs for comment. Read the original article on Entertainment Weekly
Yahoo
05-08-2025
- Yahoo
Sean 'Diddy' Combs denied bail again ahead of sentencing
Sean "Diddy" Combs has been denied bail ahead of his sentencing on prostitution-related charges. Judge Arun Subramanian said the hip-hop mogul had failed to show sufficient evidence he is not a flight risk and also cited admissions of previous violence made during his trial. Combs, 55, has been in prison since his arrest in September last year. During a two-month trial, jurors heard allegations that he had coerced former girlfriends, including singer and model Cassie Ventura, into having drug-fuelled sex marathons with male sex workers, while he watched and filmed them. In July, he was found guilty of two counts of transportation for prostitution - but cleared of more serious charges of racketeering conspiracy and sex-trafficking, which carried potential life sentences. The rapper's legal team hailed this a "victory" and immediately applied for bail ahead of sentencing, citing his acquittal on the top charges. After this was denied, they submitted another application last week. Judge Subramanian has now rejected the request again. In denying the motion for bail, the judge found Combs had failed to show sufficient evidence to counter arguments he is a flight risk, writing in a court filing: "Increasing the amount of the bond or devising additional conditions doesn't change the calculus given the circumstances and heavy burden of proof that Combs bears." Read more: He also found that an argument by the music star's legal team that the squalor and danger of the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC), where he is being held, did not warrant release. "The public outcry concerning these conditions has come from all corners," the judge wrote. "But as Combs acknowledges, MDC staff has been able to keep him safe and attend to his needs, even during an incident of threatened violence from an inmate." As well as Combs's bail application, his legal team has also filed a motion calling for him to be acquitted or given a new trial on the prostitution-related charges only. The judge has not yet responded to this application. How long could Diddy be jailed for? Combs is due to be sentenced on 3 October and could be sentenced to up to 20 years in prison. Discussions on sentencing guidelines which followed the jury's verdict suggest it is unlikely he will be jailed for this long, with an estimate of around two to five years, taking into account time already served. However, it is ultimately up to Judge Arun Subramanian to decide the rapper's punishment. On Friday, Donald Trump was asked during an interview about a potential pardon for Combs following speculation about the issue. The president said it was unlikely, adding that the rapper was "very hostile" during his presidential campaign. Combs, who co-founded Bad Boy Records and launched the career of the late Notorious BIG, was for decades a huge figure in pop culture - a Grammy-winning hip-hop artist and business entrepreneur, who presided over an empire ranging from fashion to reality TV. As well as the criminal conviction, he is also facing several civil lawsuits.
Washington Post
05-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
Sean ‘Diddy' Combs denied bail for fifth time ahead of sentencing
Sean 'Diddy' Combs was denied bail once again as he awaits sentencing for two prostitution-related charges. The music producer has been petitioning for his release from a federal jail in Brooklyn since his arrest in September. 'Combs fails to satisfy his burden to demonstrate an entitlement to release,' Judge Arun Subramanian wrote in a letter Monday. Combs's attorneys have repeatedly tried to get him released from the Metropolitan Detention Center, making their most recent appeal in July, less than a month after he was convicted on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. He's expected to be sentenced to between 0 and 10 years in prison for each count on Oct. 3. After a wave of civil sexual assault lawsuits and Homeland Security Department raids on two of his mansions, Combs was indicted and arrested in September. The judge denied a proposed bail package that included a $50 million bond, deciding that Combs's release would leave his accusers vulnerable and that his history of drug use meant he wasn't trustworthy. The defense team appealed the decision shortly after, adding that Combs would be subject to weekly drug testing, any women other than family members would be barred from visiting him, and his visitors would be monitored by a private security company. But another judge denied the appeal, deeming him a flight risk and stating that security wouldn't be enough to stop him from potentially sending coded messages. He was denied bail a third time in November by Subramanian, who presided over Combs's racketeering and sex-trafficking trial, because of evidence suggesting Combs could be violent and tamper with witnesses. Combs's attorneys renewed their efforts after the verdict in his nearly two-month federal trial. They asked that he be immediately let out on a $1 million bond co-signed by family members, noting that the jury had acquitted him on the most serious charges: racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking. But Subramanian again denied the request, citing the defense team's own admission that Combs had a history of violence. In a letter opposing Combs's release, former Bad Boy employee and celebrity stylist Deonte Nash argued that freeing Combs on bail would 'send a dangerous message: that wealth and influence can shield someone indefinitely from accountability.' Nash, who testified at Combs's trial, added, 'It will also endanger those who cooperated with this investigation under subpoena, who are already living in fear of retaliation.' In late July, the defense proposed Combs's release with a $50 million bond secured by his Miami home, adding that he would travel only between Florida and New York to confer with his lawyers. His attorneys cited similar cases in which the defendants were released pending sentencing. His bail petition was notably supported by ex-girlfriend Virginia Huynh, whom federal prosecutors attempted to subpoena for Combs's criminal trial, alleging that Huynh was another victim of sex trafficking and physical abuse. According to the government, Huynh and her attorney were unresponsive after multiple attempts to contact her. Huynh, in a 2019 podcast, accused Combs of punching her in the head and stomping on her stomach. A former personal assistant to Combs also testified that he had witnessed Combs being physically aggressive with Huynh. But in August, Huynh submitted a letter of support for Combs, saying she did not consider him 'a danger to me or the community.' 'Our relationship, like many, was not always perfect,' she wrote, 'but he was willing to acknowledge his mistakes and make better decisions in the future.' 'Allowing him to be at home will also support the healing process for all involved,' Huynh argued. Janay Kingsberry, Shayna Jacobs and Herb Scribner contributed to this report.
CTV News
05-08-2025
- CTV News
Sean ‘Diddy' Combs loses bid for release from jail ahead of sentencing
Sean ' Diddy' Combs, second from left, watches from the defence table as the judge speaks to the jury in Manhattan federal court on July 1, 2025. (Elizabeth Williams via AP) NEW YORK — Sean 'Diddy' Combs on Monday lost his bid to be released from jail ahead of his Oct. 3 sentencing, after the hip-hop mogul was found not guilty at his sex crimes trial of the most serious charges he faced. Combs' lawyers had asked U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian on July 29 to release Combs on a US$50 million bond, arguing conditions at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn were dangerous and that defendants convicted in the past of prostitution-related charges that were similar to Combs' were usually released before their sentencing. Prosecutors with the Manhattan U.S. Attorney's office countered in an Aug. 1 court filing that staffing levels, medical services, and facility conditions at the MDC had improved since Combs was arrested in September 2024. They also said evidence of Combs' physical violence presented at trial showed he was a danger to the community. In a written ruling on Monday, Subramanian said Combs' arguments 'might have traction in a case that didn't involve evidence of violence, coercion or subjugation in connection with the acts of prostitution at issue, but the record here contains evidence of all three.' Combs' lawyers did not immediately respond to a request for comment. (Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York; Editing by Chris Reese)
