Attorneys for Sean “Diddy” Combs have formally appealed a judge’s ruling denying him bail, marking their latest attempt to secure his release from jail as he awaits trial on racketeering and sex trafficking charges.
In a notice filed in Manhattan federal court on Monday, September 30, the rapper’s lawyers said they would ask the U.S. Court of Appeal for the Second Circuit to overturn Judge Andrew L. Carter’s earlier decision to keep Combs in custody, citing concerns that he might pose a danger if released.
The filing did not include detailed arguments, which will be presented at a later stage in the appeals court.
Combs, also known as Puff Daddy and P. Diddy, was once one of the most influential figures in the music industry. However, he was indicted earlier this month by federal prosecutors on charges of sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, and bribery. If convicted, he could potentially face a life sentence.
Prosecutors allege that Combs operated a large-scale criminal network designed to fulfill his “sexual gratification.” The charges describe “freak offs,” in which Combs and others allegedly drugged victims and coerced them into engaging in sexual acts with male sex workers, along with alleged acts of violence and intimidation to keep victims silent.
“For decades, Sean Combs … abused, threatened, and coerced women and others around him to fulfill his sexual desires, protect his reputation, and conceal his conduct,” prosecutors wrote in the indictment. “To do so, Combs relied on the employees, resources, and the influence of his multi-faceted business empire that he led and controlled.”
A day after the indictment was unsealed, Judge Carter denied Combs bail. Although Combs’ legal team had offered a $50 million bond and proposed strict monitoring measures, the judge was persuaded by prosecutors’ arguments that Combs could flee or obstruct the case by pressuring witnesses.
As a result of the ruling, Combs remains at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn, a federal correctional facility known for its dangerous and dysfunctional conditions. In court filings, Combs’ attorney, Marc Agnifilo, has described the MDC as “horrific” and “not fit for pre-trial detention.” Following the bail hearing, Agnifilo also called the jail’s conditions “inhumane” during a press conference.
