Why was Diddy denied bail? Judge sides with prosecutors who claim the rapper is a flight risk

Sean "Diddy" Combs celebrate BET Lifetime Achievement At After Party Powered By Meta, Ciroc Premium Vodka And DeLeon Tequila - Source: Getty
Combs will be held at the Special Housing Unit in the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn until his next court appearance on Wednesday.(Image via Getty Image/Kevin Mazur)

Sean "Diddy" Combs will remain in federal detention after he was denied bail as he faces charges of racketeering conspiracy and s*x trafficking.

During an arraignment on Tuesday, September 17, federal prosecutors argued that Combs should be kept in custody despite him selling his LA home and his private plane. The prosecutors filed a detention letter outlining the music mogul's "dozens of bank accounts" and "millions of dollars." In part, the prosecutors noted:

"The defendant's vast resources make him a flight risk even without a passport, private plane, or multiple residences."

While Diddy's defense attorneys proposed to have him on home detention with a $50 million bond, prosecutors said that it was "plainly insufficient." Moreover, Assistant US Attorney Emily Johnson told the judge on Tuesday that Combs shouldn't be released on bail because of his history of assaulting his victims. She added that the rapper had previously reached out to some victims, and "witnesses have universally expressed fear" of him.

In the end, Judge Robyn Tarnofsky sided with the prosecutors and denied the bail. She told Diddy that she couldn't find any assurance that he would appear in court if he was released on bail.

Also read: What is Diddy Do It about?


Diddy's lawyer said that they will appeal the judge's ruling

After the hearing on Tuesday, Comb's attorney, Marc Agnifico, expressed frustration over bail denial. He highlighted that the hip-hop artist got on a plane and voluntarily "turned himself in".

Agnifilo added that his team will appeal the decision. The bail appeal, he said, will take place the next day in the same courtroom but in front of a different judge. The attorney reiterated the support towards his client and said:

"He's going to clear his name and we're going to stand by his side as he does. We believe in him wholeheartedly."

Combs will be held at the Special Housing Unit in the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn until his next court appearance on Wednesday afternoon. The special housing unit is separated from the general prison population. It is used to house inmates who require additional protection.

Sean "Diddy" Combs was arrested on Monday, September 16, at the Park Hyatt Hotel in Manhattan. Homeland Security Investigations took him into custody after months of controversy. In a press conference on Tuesday, the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York outlined the charges made against him. The charges include "racketeering conspiracy, s*x trafficking, and interstate transportation for prostitution."

Combs pleaded "not guilty" to all the charges in court on Tuesday. His attorney had previously told reporters ahead of the hearing that "he's innocent of these charges."

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Edited by Niharika Dabral
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