Sean “Diddy” Combs has been denied bail and can stay behind bars whereas awaiting sentencing in his federal trial, the place he was discovered responsible on two counts of transportation for prostitution however dodged the extra severe prices of intercourse trafficking and racketeering. The decide set a sentencing date for October 3 at 10 a.m. ET.
After the jury revealed the decision early Wednesday morning, Combs’ legal professional Marc Agnifilo instructed the decide that he “must be launched on acceptable circumstances” as early as at present. The prosecution countered the request, stating that it posed a “actual threat” to let him stroll free.
Choose Arun Subramanian, who’s presiding over the case, said that he needed to learn letters from each side earlier than making his determination concerning bail. In its letter, Combs’ authorized workforce proposed a bail bundle together with a $1 million bond; journey restrictions to sure areas of Florida, California and New York or New Jersey; surrendering his passport; and drug testing.
The federal government, in the meantime, argued that he must be detained as his prices below the Mann Act require detention, and said that “the one conceivable foundation for launch right here is the existence of ‘distinctive circumstances.’” Prosecutors wrote that “even when detention was not necessary right here, which it’s, the defendant can not meet his burden to indicate by clear and convincing proof that he’s not more likely to flee or pose a hazard to every other particular person or the group.”
They be aware that the rules based mostly on preliminary calculations dictate that the length of imprisonment ranges from 51 to 63 months, or roughly 4 to 5 years.
Of their response to the federal government’s letter, Combs’ attorneys argued that prosecutors had been overstating his sentencing publicity and famous that he was not convicted of a violent crime. They stated that detention shouldn’t be needed on account of his “distinctive circumstances,” together with taking care of his youngsters in addition to his mom, Janice Combs, who’s 85 years previous and would love him to be her main caretaker.
“Mr. Combs must be launched on bail at present,” they wrote. “It might be unjust to proceed detaining Mr. Combs on the MDC even in the future longer, particularly since — given the sentencing pointers for these prostitution offenses — he would in any other case be entitled to serve any extra time imposed at a lower-security facility.”
On 5 p.m. on Wednesday, the events reconvened within the federal courtroom, the place the decide introduced his ruling. Subramanian stated it will be “not possible” for Combs to show he wouldn’t pose a hazard to others if launched on bail. Utilizing the protection attorneys’ personal phrases in opposition to them, the decide supplied examples from the trial wherein they admitted to Combs’ sample of violence. “You full-throatedly in your closing argument instructed the jury that there was violence right here,” Subramanian stated to Agnifilo, quoting his summation on Friday: “‘We personal the home violence. We personal it.’”
The decide stated the protection had “prevailed” on getting Combs acquitted on racketeering and intercourse trafficking prices, however “home violence is violence.” The proof of such violence, the decide stated, won’t be thought-about with respect to Combs’ sentencing, however it may be thought-about when figuring out bail.
Agnifilo, looking for a “glimmer of hope,” instructed the decide that Combs had enrolled in a “batterer’s program” and went to conferences in New York earlier than he was arrested in September 2024. Combs has been a “outstanding prisoner” and is “engaged on himself,” Agnifilo added. “I believe we should always belief him. He’s not going to flee. He’s been given his life again. … He’s going to have subsequent chapters of his life.” The protection’s important argument was that this case had “distinctive” circumstances that ought to enable Combs’ launch.
Arguing on behalf of the prosecution, Maurene Comey stated “the one factor distinctive” about Combs “is his wealth, his violence and his brazenness.” In fiery remarks, she reminded the decide of Combs’ violence in opposition to girls, which allegedly occurred as just lately as June 2024, when he knew he was below a federal investigation. “There’s nothing distinctive about this case apart from his continued criminality,” Comey stated.
Agnifilo fired again: “Listening to Ms. Comey makes me admire we’ve got juries.”
At one level through the bail listening to, Combs himself waved on the decide and indicated he needed to say a couple of phrases. Finally, the chance handed, and he remained silent.
A digital listening to between the decide and the events to debate a pre-sentencing report has been set for Tuesday, July 8, at 2 p.m.
Combs was discovered responsible on two of the much less severe prices in his federal trial, with every carrying a 10-year most sentence. The hip-hop mogul was dealing with a most of life in jail if the jury discovered him responsible on racketeering and intercourse trafficking prices. Following his detainment in September 2024, Combs had beforehand provided a $50 million bond backed by fairness in his houses and the promise of safety monitoring, but was denied bail 3 times earlier than withdrawing his bid in December.
After the decision was learn Wednesday, the temper among the many protection workforce was celebratory, and Combs appeared relieved and overjoyed. The decision arrived after an intense eight-week trial the place a number of of Combs’ former staff and romantic companions testified about his habits through the years. Combs was accused of coercing a number of girls into “freak-offs” with male escorts that he transported throughout state strains.
His former girlfriend, Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, was a key witness within the federal trial, showing for a four-day testimony the place she alleged that Combs routinely assaulted and psychologically abused her.
Following the decision, Ventura’s legal professional Douglas H. Wigdor launched an announcement commending her “energy” and coming ahead with accusations that inevitably led to the federal case. “She displayed unquestionable energy and introduced consideration to the realities of highly effective males in our orbit and the misconduct that has continued for many years with out repercussion,” he stated. “This case proved that change is lengthy overdue, and we’ll proceed to struggle on behalf of survivors.”
