Sean “Diddy” Combs will not be released on bail by Thanksgiving, a federal judge ruled Wednesday, accusing the hip-hop mogul of violating prison rules and seeking ways to evade prison rules since his arrest.
In a five-page ruling, U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian wrote that the defense team found Combs posed a “substantial risk of witness tampering” and was in jail time. The court ruled that he should not be released on $50 million bail. Rules such as paying other inmates for phone access codes to call people outside of their approved contact list.
“His willingness to wear skirts was [Board of Prison] The fact that there are rules in place that would make it more difficult to monitor his communications is strong evidence that the court cannot reasonably ensure that[d] As to the sufficiency of the conditions of release,” Justice Subramanian ruled.
The ruling ended a third attempt by Combs’ lawyers to have him released during his criminal trial.
In the latest motion, his lawyers asked that he be confined under 24-hour surveillance in a three-bedroom apartment on New York City’s Upper West Side rather than in jail.
Combs’ lawyers said in a motion that the apartment is “far more restrictive” than the conditions Combs faces in prison, and that the arrangement includes limits to calls to his lawyer only and calls for certain family members and lawyers. only that it included allowing Combs to visit. , is monitored by an independent company.
However, Subramanian rejected the request.
“Given the nature of the allegations in this case and the information provided by the government, the court questions whether any conditions placed on Combs and its employment personnel (such as private security personnel) are sufficient to comply with the terms,” he wrote. “I’m embracing it,” he said. I wrote.
Combs is charged with sex trafficking, extortion and transportation for the purpose of prostitution. According to court records, federal prosecutors say the 55-year-old founder of Bad Boy Entertainment used his employee networks and influence to lure female victims into having sex with male prostitutes by using violence, intimidation and threats. They allege that he was coerced and drugged.
Prosecutors said Combs described his sexual binges, which sometimes lasted days, as “deviant behavior.”
Prosecutors have opposed Combs’ attempts to get bail, saying he continued to try to tamper with witnesses and violated prison rules.
In his ruling, the judge said federal prosecutors had “demonstrated by clear and convincing evidence that no condition or combination of conditions reasonably guarantees the safety of the community.” It found that there was a “grave risk of witness tampering.”
Subramanian also pointed to the infamous surveillance video of Combs assaulting his then-girlfriend, Cassandra “Kathy” Ventura, at the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles, calling it “compelling evidence of Combs’ propensity for violence.” He said that it shows.
In his ruling, the judge also cited what he called “false statements” made by Combs’ attorney during a Nov. 19 emergency hearing.
During the hearing, Combs’ defense team argued that notes written on a legal pad seized from Combs’ cell during a cleaning at the Metropolitan Detention Center were labeled “legal” and therefore considered privileged. argued that it should be done.
However, photographs taken at the scene of the sweep revealed that the notebooks had no such labels.
“The circumstances of this case and the false statements made at the November 19, 2024 hearing attended by Mr. Combs have no bearing on whether there can be a reasonable assurance that the conditions imposed by the court will be complied with. Give,” he wrote.
Source link
