UPDATE: Sean “Diddy” Combs has been denied bail while awaiting sentencing after a federal judge in New York ruled he poses a flight risk and danger to the community. The ruling comes as Combs faces sentencing on October 3, 2023, following his conviction for transportation to engage in prostitution.
In a decisive ruling issued on Monday, Judge Arun Subramanian stated there were no “exceptional reasons” to release Combs prior to sentencing. This decision follows serious allegations and evidence suggesting Combs exhibited violent behavior, including disturbing hotel surveillance footage from 2016 showing him kicking and dragging his former partner, Cassie Ventura.
The judge emphasized that the evidence presented during the trial indicated a clear pattern of violence and coercion, which ultimately influenced the decision to deny bail. Judge Subramanian highlighted that Combs’s defense—claiming his actions were part of a consensual “swingers lifestyle”—was insufficient in light of the documented violence and threats against victims involved.
“The record here contains evidence of all three: violence, coercion, and subjugation,” Judge Subramanian stated, referencing the severity of the case.
Combs’s legal team argued for his release on the grounds of unsafe conditions at the Metropolitan Detention Center where he has been held for the past 11 months. However, the judge dismissed this argument, stating that jail staff had effectively ensured Combs’s safety, even in light of a recent incident involving a threat from another inmate.
Following an intense eight-week federal trial, a jury found Combs guilty of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, while acquitting him of more serious charges including sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy. The jury’s verdict and the judge’s subsequent ruling reflect a broader societal concern regarding accountability and safety in cases involving allegations of violence and exploitation.
This situation remains fluid as the sentencing date approaches. Observers are keenly watching how Combs will respond to the judge’s ruling and what arguments his defense team may present at the upcoming sentencing.
This is a developing story. Stay tuned for live updates as this situation unfolds.
