Sean 'Diddy' Combs has been denied bail for a second time. The 54-year-old rap star is set to remain in a Brooklyn jail until he stands trial in his sex trafficking case, after a second judge refused to accept a $50 million bail package offered by his lawyers. US district judge Andrew L Carter Jr dismissed Combs' request to be released to home detention with GPS monitoring, with the judge pointing out that the hip-hop mogul could potentially tamper with witnesses.
Combs pleaded not guilty to allegations of sex trafficking on Tuesday (17.09.24).
The rapper appeared at a court in Manhattan after being charged with racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, and transportation to engage in prostitution. Asked during a court hearing how he pleaded to the charges, Combs replied: "Not guilty." The rapper's lawyers subsequently requested that Combs be freed on bond, pending trial, after paying a sum of $50 million.
However, following a a lengthy debate between legal teams on whether Combs represents a flight risk, Magistrate Judge Robyn Tarnofsky announced that the rap star will remain in detention until his sex trafficking trial begins. Marc Agnifilo - Combs' lawyer - subsequently said that the music star is determined to "establish his innocence". Agnifilo told reporters outside the court: "He's going to fight this.
He's innocent. He came to New York to establish his innocence. "We believe in him wholeheartedly.
He didn't do these things. There's no coer.