Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’s lawyers argue for rap mogul’s release on $50M US bail
Sean “Diddy” Combs has been fighting to be released from jail ahead of his May 5, 2025 trial on sex-trafficking charges. His defence lawyer argued that there is no risk of him acting violently if released, proposing a $50-million US bail package backed by his $48-million US Florida mansion. The package includes around-the-clock security monitoring, home detention, and no contact with alleged victims or witnesses.
Despite three previous bail denials due to concerns of witness tampering, Combs’s lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, reassured the judge that there is a zero per cent chance of him acting violently if released. He addressed a 2016 hotel surveillance video showing Combs assaulting his then-girlfriend Casandra Ventura, stating that it was not evidence of sex trafficking but rather a part of a toxic yet loving 11-year relationship.
On the prosecutor’s side, Christine Slavik argued that Combs attempted to bribe hotel staff to delete the surveillance footage, demonstrating his commitment to concealing his crimes through illegal means. She also mentioned that even from behind bars, Combs had been communicating with his lawyers through unauthorized channels and attempting to run a social media campaign to influence potential jurors.
Combs’s lawyer, Alexandra Shapiro, defended his right to respond to news coverage that could potentially paint him in a negative light for potential jurors. Throughout the hearing, Combs, dressed in a beige jail-issued outfit, blew kisses at his family seated in the audience.
The prosecution alleged that the abuse included recorded sexual performances called “freak-offs” with male sex workers, some of whom were transported across state lines. Combs, however, maintains his innocence, with his legal team arguing that the sexual activities described by prosecutors were consensual.
Comparing Combs’s case to that of former Abercrombie and Fitch CEO Mike Jeffries, who was granted pre-trial release on a $10-million US bond for similar charges, Combs’s lawyers questioned the necessity of jail time. The U.S. attorney’s office highlighted Jeffries’s lack of criminal history and age as factors in his release, contrasting them with Combs’s prior arrests and the recovery of rifles with defaced serial numbers from his residences.
In a recent development, Judge Arun Subramanian ordered prosecutors to destroy their copies of handwritten notes that Combs took in jail, pending a decision on whether they were subject to attorney-client privilege. As the legal battle continues, the fate of Sean “Diddy” Combs remains uncertain as he awaits his trial on the serious charges brought against him.
