Communiqué
Why Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Remains Behind Bars: Judges Break Down the Denial of Bail
< < Back toWhy is Sean “Diddy” Combs still in jail and not out on some type of bond, bail, or pretrial release?
On this edition of Next Witness…Please, retired judges Gayle Williams-Byers and Thomas Hodson explore the federal criminal charges against Combs and look closely at why he currently is being held in the Metropolitan Detention Center in New York City and not released on bond.
Combs is in jail pending a trial date which is expected to be set during a pretrial conference in federal court in New York City on October 9.
Combs was arrested in New York on September 16 and initially charged with racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, and transportation to engage in prostitution.
The racketeering charge carries with it a maximum sentence of life in prison, the trafficking charge carries a maximum sentence of life and a minimum sentence of 15 years, and the transportation charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years.
The charges were the result of a long investigation which is still ongoing.
Judges Byers and Hodson discussed the original search warrants for Combs in an April 4 episode of WOUB’s Spectrum Podcast titled “What do music mogul Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs and Donald Trump have in common?” https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-does-music-mogul-sean-diddy-combs-and-donald/id1124539097?i=1000651458552
At his arraignment, federal prosecutor Emily Johnson argued that Combs had a long and turbulent history of intimidating accusers and witnesses. He has a history of violence. Also, she claimed that part of his mode of operation was extortion and intimidation of victims or potential witnesses against him.
The prosecution team filed a letter with the magistrate requesting that no bond be given to Combs. In the 16-page detention letter, the team said:
“… the defendant poses an ongoing and significant danger to the community, has repeatedly engaged in obstructive conduct, and presents a serious risk of flight. The Government respectfully submits that the defendant cannot meet his burden of overcoming the statutory presumption in favor of detention. There are no conditions of bail that would assure the appearance and compliance of the defendant, or the safety of others. Accordingly, any application for bail should be denied.”
Here is a copy of the entire detention letter: https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/sean-combs-detention-memo.pdf
Combs’ attorneys said they were willing to post a $50 million dollar bond and agreed that Combs be given house arrest with 24-hour surveillance and strict limitations for visitors.
The magistrate turned down the defense’s suggestion and held Combs without bond.
A trial judge reviewed the matter and agreed with the magistrate.
Combs’ attorneys have now appealed their bond request to the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals in New York.
As of the date of this podcast, the 2nd Circuit has not ruled on the matter and Combs remains in jail.
Judges Byers and Hodson review the bond issue and explain considerations a judge may review in deciding the issue of pretrial release.
Hear their analysis of this case from a judicial perspective.