Attorneys for hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs have filed a fresh request urging a US federal judge to release him on a $50 million bond ahead of his October 3 sentencing. The plea comes after Combs was found not guilty of the most serious charges in his recent high-profile sex crimes trial.
In a court filing submitted Tuesday, Combs’ lead attorney, Marc Agnifilo, argued that his continued detention at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn is both dangerous and unwarranted, particularly given the nature of the charges on which he was ultimately convicted.
“Sean Combs should not be in jail for this conduct,” Agnifilo wrote. “In fact, he may be the only person currently in a United States jail for being any sort of john.”
Combs, 55, was acquitted on July 2 of three major federal charges—sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy—that carried potential life sentences. However, the jury convicted him of two lesser charges: transportation to engage in prostitution. While each of those counts carries a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years, prosecutors have acknowledged that sentencing guidelines point toward a much lighter sentence.
Despite the reduced convictions, US District Judge Arun Subramanian denied Combs’ initial request for release after the verdict, citing strong evidence of violent behaviour presented during the six-week trial. Prosecutors alleged that Combs used intimidation, physical abuse, and his business resources to coerce two ex-girlfriends into participating in extended, drug-fuelled sexual encounters with male sex workers—referred to as “freak-offs.” Combs pleaded not guilty, asserting the acts were consensual.
In their latest motion, Combs’ legal team claimed that it is rare for individuals to be prosecuted for prostitution-related offences without evidence of financial profit, and said his detention since September 2024 constitutes an “exceptional circumstance” that should justify his release. The filing also cited reports of violence within MDC, raising concerns about Combs’ safety.
The US Attorney’s Office in Manhattan, which led the prosecution, has not yet commented on the request. Meanwhile, the Bureau of Prisons has stated that it is working to improve conditions at MDC but also declined to issue a response.
Whether Combs will be granted bond before his sentencing remains uncertain, but his legal team maintains that continued detention under such circumstances is unjust.
Melissa Enoch
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