Hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs is staying behind bars as yet another judge has refused a request to grant him bail and set aside an astonishing $50 million offer for his release. The decision marks the fourth unsuccessful attempt by the 55-year-old rapper/producer to be released as he awaits serious charges in connection with sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy.
Combs was arrested in September, accused of leading a years-long operation that allegedly coerced and abused women, aided by associates, with tactics that include blackmail, arson, kidnapping, and violent beatings to silence his victims. He has pleaded not guilty and maintains all relationships were consensual, but prosecutors paint a chilling picture of calculated exploitation and criminal enterprise.
US District Judge Arun Subramanian issued the latest denial of bail in a written order after a heated two-hour court session on November 22. The ruling ensures that Combs will stay locked up in Manhattan until his criminal trial begins on May 5, 2024.