Nationwide — Sean “Diddy” Combs’ legal team has filed a third appeal with the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, seeking his pretrial release. The motion challenges a decision by the Southern District of New York, which denied Combs bail twice due to allegations of obstruction of justice and witness tampering. According to Page Six, Combs’ attorneys argue that the rapper-turned-mogul should be granted immediate release under strict bail conditions, citing a lack of sufficient evidence for his detention and legal errors made in the previous rulings.Combs, the founder of Bad Boy Records, was arrested in September on charges including racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, and transporting individuals for prostitution. He pleaded not guilty to all charges and is currently held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn while awaiting trial. Prosecutors expressed concerns that, if released, Combs might intimidate witnesses and obstruct the case, highlighting his financial resources and access to private jets as potential risks of flight.
Despite these concerns, Combs’ legal team proposed a robust bail package, which included a $50 million bond secured by his $48-million Miami mansion and his mother’s home. The hip-hop star also volunteered to wear a GPS monitor, limit his travel to Miami and New York, and even sell his private plane. His attorneys insisted that Combs poses no danger to the community and that the allegations of witness tampering are speculative and unsubstantiated.
The indictment against Combs paints a dark picture, accusing him and his associates of organizing drug-fueled sex gatherings known as “Freak Offs.” During these events, Combs allegedly subjected victims to physical, emotional, and verbal abuse, including hitting, kicking, and dragging them by their hair. Prosecutors claimed these assaults often resulted in injuries, and Combs is said to have electronically recorded many of the incidents.
In addition to sex trafficking charges, federal agents found over 1,000 bottles of lubricant, narcotics, and several firearms during a raid of Combs’ properties in Los Angeles and Miami. If convicted, Combs faces a minimum of 15 years in prison. His legal team continues to argue that the government has not provided clear and convincing evidence that he is a danger to the public or has tampered with witnesses.