Sean “Diddy” Combs, the renowned music mogul, will face a crucial hearing on Wednesday afternoon to determine whether he will remain in custody on charges of sex trafficking, forced labor, and racketeering conspiracy, ABC News reports.
Combs, 54, was denied bail by Judge Robyn Tarnofsky on Tuesday, a decision his attorney, Marc Agnifilo, has appealed. The hearing is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET.
The indictment, unsealed on Tuesday, alleges that Combs ran an “enterprise” that engaged in “sex trafficking, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, and other crimes” from 2008 to the present. Prosecutors claim that Combs “abused, threatened, and coerced women and others around him to fulfill his sexual desires, protect his reputation, and conceal his conduct.” These allegations mirror 11 civil complaints filed against Combs since 2023.
Judge Tarnofsky, citing the secretive nature of the alleged crimes, expressed concern that Combs posed a risk of flight and potentially intimidating witnesses. Federal prosecutors argued that he posed a significant threat to the community, highlighting his alleged attempts to bribe security staff and intimidate witnesses in the past.
Agnifilo, however, disputed the government’s assessment of Combs as a flight risk. Agnifilo also revealed that Combs is attempting to sell his private plane and has surrendered his passport and those of five relatives to the authorities. He argued that Combs’ recent trips, including a graduation party and a whitewater rafting excursion, were pre-approved and disclosed to the government.
