A New York federal decide denied Sean “Diddy” Combs’ request to be launched on bail, discovering “by clear and convincing proof” that the hip-hop mogul is probably harmful and “that no situation or mixture of circumstances will fairly guarantee the protection of the neighborhood.”
Decide Arun Subramanian determined “there may be compelling proof of Combs’s propensity for violence,” together with video obtained by CNN from the 2016 Intercontinental Resort incident with protégé Cassie Ventura.
Whereas the protection argued the footage was edited and manipulated the decide mentioned, “There may be clearly violence even within the model of the footage submitted by Combs.”
Each federal prosecutors and Combs’ attorneys submitted their closing letters about whether or not the music mogul must be allowed out on bail on Monday. That is the fourth time he was denied bail.
Sean “Diddy” Combs attends Sean “Diddy” Combs Fulfills $1 Million Pledge To Howard College At Howard Homecoming’s Yardfest at Howard College, Oct. 20, 2023, in Washington, D.C.
Shareif Ziyadat/Getty Pictures
Prosecutors argued that Combs’ try and affect witnesses whereas in jail “constitutes obstruction” of his prison case. Additionally they known as out Combs’ “latest efforts to affect the jury pool” by a social media marketing campaign organized by his youngsters.
Combs’ attorneys mentioned their consumer’s conduct was protected free speech, meant to fight “outrageous claims about Mr. Combs” by “authorities brokers, plaintiffs’ attorneys, and others with questionable motives.”
The decide additionally cited textual content messages between Combs and Ventura from the hours and days following the encounter.
“I’ve a black eye and a fats lip. You might be sick for pondering it is OK to do what you have completed,” one message mentioned. “I nonetheless have loopy bruising,” mentioned one other.
Combs proposed house confinement in a three-bedroom Higher East Aspect condominium with 24/7 personal safety, limits on guests and restrictions on his communications. Nonetheless, the decide mentioned, “Given the character of the allegations on this case and the knowledge offered by the federal government, the Courtroom doubts the sufficiency of any circumstances that place belief in Combs and people in his make use of—like a personal safety element—to observe these circumstances.”
Final Friday, the protection known as the proposed circumstances “much more restrictive” than Combs faces in jail.
They included limiting cellphone calls to attorneys, limiting guests aside from attorneys and particular relations, preserving a visitation log, and avoiding contact with witnesses or potential witnesses.
Nevertheless, federal prosecutors have mentioned there aren’t any circumstances that may cut back Combs’ threat of tampering with witnesses or shaping the opinions of potential jurors.
In courtroom final Friday, prosecutors summarily mentioned that Combs “can’t be trusted” to observe the principles of a pretrial launch.
The decide sided with the prosecution’s argument.
In his choice, Subramanian cited “proof supporting a critical threat of witness tampering,” together with Combs’ calls and texts with witnesses, and his flouting of jailhouse guidelines, like utilizing the cellphone entry codes of different inmates at MDC-Brooklyn.
“[Combs’] willingness to skirt BOP guidelines in a manner that will make it harder for his communications to be monitored is robust proof that the Courtroom can’t be fairly guarantee[d] as to the sufficiency of any circumstances of launch,” Subramanian mentioned.
Subramanian is the fourth decide to disclaim Combs bail after a federal Justice of the Peace, the prior district courtroom decide assigned to the case and an appeals courtroom decide.
