Sean “Diddy” Combs was once again denied bail Wednesday (Sept. 18) in his sex-assault case after a federal judge ruled that the accused rapper and music executive would be a flight risk and could intimidate witnesses if released, the AP reports.
At a hearing in Manhattan federal court, Combs' lawyers renewed their request to have him await trial on sex-trafficking and extortion charges under house arrest at his Miami mansion, once again offering to post bail. $50 million and be subject to other stringent requirements.
But just as a judge had ruled a day earlier, the judge Andrew L. Carter said Tuesday that Didi must await trial in a Brooklyn federal prison, citing concerns that the once-powerful executive could endanger others or obstruct the government's case.
Combs, also known as Puff Daddy and P. Diddy, was once one of the most powerful men in the music industry. But on Tuesday he was indicted by federal prosecutors on charges of sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson and bribery. If convicted of all charges, he could face up to life in prison.
In Tuesday's indictment, prosecutors accused Combs of running an extensive criminal enterprise aimed at satisfying his need for “sexual gratification.” The charges described “horrendous phenomena” in which Combs and others allegedly drugged victims and then forced them to have sex with male sex workers, as well as alleged acts of violence and intimidation to keep the victims silent.
“For decades, Sean Combs … abused, threatened and coerced women and others around him to fulfill his sexual desires, protect his reputation and hide his behavior,” prosecutors wrote in the indictment. “To do this, Combs relied on the employees, resources and influence of his multifaceted business empire that he led and controlled.”
At his initial appeal Tuesday, Combs' attorneys presented their arguments to the judge Robyn F. Tarnofskywho ultimately denied Diddy's request for bail. She cited, among other things, her “very significant concerns” about Combs' substance abuse and “what appear to be anger issues,” according to the Associated Press.
A day later, the rapper's lawyers exercised their right to renew their bail request to Judge Carter, the full federal district judge who will oversee the case and possible jury trial.
Before Wednesday's hearing, Combs' attorneys filed an updated “package” of bail restrictions that they said would alleviate any concerns raised by prosecutors. In addition to the $50 million bail and house arrest, they promised to be subject to GPS tracking, travel restrictions, weekly drug tests and constant monitoring of visitors. Given the nature of the complaints, they also offered to “limit female visitors to Mr. Combs' residence other than family or the mothers of his children.”
But the judge was swayed once again by prosecutors, who repeated their warnings that Combs was a “serial offender” who had a history of both violence and witness intimidation, raising the prospect that he could try to obstruct the case against of.
