Hip-hop icon and music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs is set to appeal his bail denial on Wednesday, following a federal judge’s ruling to keep him in custody.
Combs, 54, faces serious charges, including racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation for prostitution, to which he pleaded not guilty on Tuesday in a New York federal court.
The appeal hearing is scheduled for 3:30p.m. ET before U.S. District Judge Andrew Carter, who is expected to oversee Combs’ case throughout the trial.
Until then, Combs will remain in solitary confinement at the Special Housing Unit in Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center, according to a law enforcement official.
Combs was arrested Monday night at the Park Hyatt Hotel in Manhattan by Homeland Security Investigations after a series of sexual assault lawsuits and a federal human trafficking investigation over the past year.
Judge Robyn Tarnofsky ruled on Tuesday that Combs would remain in custody pending trial. If convicted, Combs faces a potential life sentence.
According to prosecutors, Combs allegedly ran a “criminal enterprise” through his business empire, engaging in crimes such as sex trafficking, forced labour, kidnapping, arson, bribery, and obstruction of justice.
The federal indictment further accuses Combs of exploiting and abusing women and others around him to fulfill his desires and protect his reputation, spanning over a decade.
The indictment outlines disturbing details, including Combs’ involvement in drug-fueled parties, referred to as “freak offs,” and various instances of physical and sexual abuse.
Law enforcement raids of his properties in March uncovered more evidence, including firearms, drugs, and a large collection of baby oil and lubricant.
During Tuesday’s proceedings, prosecutors argued that Combs should remain detained due to his alleged efforts to intimidate witnesses. They highlighted his history of reaching out to victims, some of whom are reportedly fearful of him.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Johnson labeled Combs a “serial abuser and a serial obstructor” and emphasised that multiple victims were involved.
In response, Combs’ defense attorney, Marc Agnifilo, proposed home detention with a $50 million bond secured by Combs’ Miami residence, but Judge Tarnofsky expressed concerns about ensuring Combs’ appearance in court if released.
“This is a crime that happens behind closed doors, even when pretrial services is monitoring,” Tarnofsky said during the hearing, ultimately denying bail.
Agnifilo, however, maintains Combs’ innocence and remains confident that his client will be vindicated. “I believe he’s innocent of the charges, and he is going to go to trial, and I believe he’s going to win,” Agnifilo told CNN.
The federal indictment details a long history of abuse, stating that Combs engaged in “verbal, emotional, physical, and sexual” violence against women and others.
Investigators highlighted a March 2016 incident, captured on video, where Combs was seen kicking and dragging a woman and throwing a vase at her in a Los Angeles hotel.
The video matched reports from CNN of Combs’ altercation with his then-girlfriend, Casandra Ventura. Ventura, though not named in the indictment, sued Combs for rape and years of abuse in November 2023, settling the lawsuit a day after filing.
The indictment further alleges that at least, a dozen witnesses have personally observed Combs’ violent behavior, with victims suffering injuries at his hands.
Agnifilo, however, dismissed the allegations of sex trafficking, arguing that the “freak offs” were consensual adult activities. “Nobody was too drunk. Nobody was too high,” Agnifilo said.
Agnifilo has committed to challenging the bail denial, asserting that Combs has no plans to flee and has cooperated with law enforcement since learning of the investigation.
He emphasised that Combs had surrendered his, and his family’s passports and reported all domestic travel, demonstrating his intent to face the charges.
Agnifilo’s defense hinges on the argument that Combs’ actions, including the controversial 2016 video, were personal matters rather than evidence of criminal activity. He stated that Combs’ relationship with the woman in the video was “toxic at times, but it was mutually so.”
Combs’ defense team will on Wednesday attempt to argue these points again in front of Judge Carter, seeking to secure his release on bail ahead of his trial.
Should the appeal fail, Combs will be returned to the Metropolitan Detention Center to await further court proceedings.
However, Agnifilo remains determined, stating, “We’ll make it as much as we can until we get him out.”
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