Federal prosecutors are vehemently opposing Sean “Diddy” Combs’ bid for bail, citing his history of violence, obstruction, and tampering with witnesses as a significant threat to the integrity of the legal process. The renowned music mogul, currently facing charges of racketeering, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution, remains behind bars at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn until his trial scheduled for May 2025.
In a court filing on Monday, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams’ office described Combs as a manipulative individual with a “decades-long pattern of violence” and a tendency towards obstruction. Prosecutors pointed out that he allegedly used banned communication tools while incarcerated and contacted witnesses despite previous assurances to the court that he would refrain from doing so.
Contradicting claims made by his counsel just days earlier, prosecutors stated that “the defendant has continued to engage in unauthorized communications with family members from the MDC by using another inmate’s ContactMeASAP account as recently as yesterday.” They further alleged that Combs had reached out to a grand jury witness multiple times before and after her testimony and subsequently deleted the messages.
The court filing also accused Combs of presenting falsified documents during a previous hearing. Prosecutors claimed that pages marked as “legal” were later found to lack such labels in their original form—a discrepancy that reportedly angered U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian.
Combs, who pleaded not guilty to the charges in September, could face life imprisonment if convicted. His defense team led by attorneys Alexandria Shapiro, Mark Agnifilo, and Teny Geragos continues to advocate for his release on a $50 million bail package that includes house arrest and round-the-clock surveillance at his Upper East Side apartment.
Drawing parallels to President-elect Donald Trump’s legal battles, Combs’ attorneys referenced United States v. Trump to argue that their client’s public statements should not be restricted. They wrote, “Mr. Combs is not required to sit idly by and acquiesce to all of this. He has a right to a fair trial and a constitutional right to speak out on his own behalf.” The defense team deemed the government’s attempts to limit his speech—such as asking his children to post birthday wishes on Instagram and expressing his opinion that the prosecution is racially motivated—as unconstitutional.
Prosecutors swiftly dismissed the comparison, deeming it unfounded. They argued that Trump’s case involved a unique balance between the rights of a presidential candidate and the need for a fair trial—an imbalance that does not apply to Combs. Additionally, they highlighted allegations that Combs had used an inmate’s account to orchestrate social media posts aimed at swaying public opinion.
One incident cited by prosecutors revolved around a birthday video shared by Combs’ children in which he spoke from jail. In the clip, he expressed his love for them, thanked them for their support, and eagerly anticipated seeing them again—a move prosecutors claim was part of a calculated campaign to influence potential jurors.
Prosecutors also emphasized the nature of the allegations against Combs, including organizing coerced sexual acts and recordings through “freak-offs,” using violence and blackmail to silence victims, and exerting control through associates. Civil suits against Combs continue to pile up, with some filed by individuals who were minors at the time of the alleged offenses.
Combs’ legal team maintains that these charges are “fictional” and merely an attempt to tarnish his reputation. They accuse prosecutors of utilizing theatrical spin in an effort to strengthen their case.
Judge Subramanian is expected to make a decision on Combs’ latest bail application this week—the third attempt by the music mogul—in light of concerns regarding witness tampering and public safety.