Sean “Diddy” Combs greeted his family with blown kisses in a packed Manhattan courtroom where he made his case for bail pending trial on charges of leading a criminal empire involving forced participation in drugged-up sex shows.
Entering the courtroom in a jail-issued outfit, Combs smiled and waved at his family, including his twin daughters Jesse and D’Lila Combs.
Combs’ legal team seeks a $50 million bond for his release as he prepares for his upcoming trial on racketeering and sex trafficking charges set for May 2025.
The hip-hop mogul is currently held at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center without bail after unsuccessful attempts to secure release in previous court appearances.
Combs was granted another opportunity to argue for release as the case was assigned to Judge Arun Subramanian, who will preside over the trial next year.
Judge Subramanian is expected to make a ruling at the conclusion of the hearing.
Prosecutors from the Manhattan US Attorneys Office have raised concerns about Combs being a risk to the community and alleged witness tampering.
Combs has pleaded not guilty to racketeering and sex trafficking charges, denying accusations of leading Bad Boy Records as a criminal enterprise and mistreating women associated with the label.
Raids on Combs’ properties in Los Angeles and Miami reportedly uncovered evidence, including narcotics and items related to alleged sex shows called “Freak Offs.”
Combs maintains his innocence, with his legal team arguing that the encounters mentioned in the indictment were consensual.
