Diddy at the 2017 Billboard Music Awards
NEW YORK – Music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs will continue his 10-week stint behind bars as he awaits his May 2025 trial on sex trafficking charges. A U.S. district judge denied his bail request on Wednesday, citing concerns about potential witness tampering.
Combs, 55, was arrested in September and pleaded not guilty to allegations of using his influence and resources to coerce women into sexual acts. Prosecutors claim he orchestrated “freak offs” involving male sex workers and forced women to participate.
Defense attorneys argue the sexual encounters were consensual and that Combs should be released under strict house arrest conditions. However, the judge sided with the prosecution, highlighting the risk of witness intimidation and Combs’ history of violent behavior.
A 2016 surveillance video showing Combs physically assaulting his then-girlfriend, Cassie, further bolstered the prosecution’s case. Prosecutors argued that the video demonstrated a pattern of abusive behavior and a potential threat to the community.
Combs’ legal team maintains his innocence and insists that the charges are unfounded. They attribute the alleged incidents to a “toxic, loving 11-year relationship” with Cassie.