Apost – U.S. Magistrate Judge Robyn Tarnofsky made the decision Tuesday after hearing lengthy arguments from prosecutors and Combs’ lawyers.
Prosecutors wanted the music mogul held without bail. His attorneys proposed that he be released on a $50 million bond to home detention with electronic monitoring.
Combs pleaded not guilty Tuesday to racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking.
An indictment accuses him of presiding over a sordid empire of sexual crimes, coercing and abusing women for years while using blackmail and shocking acts of violence to keep his victims in line.
Sean “Diddy” Combs pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges of presiding over a sordid empire of sexual crimes, coercing and abusing women for years while using blackmail and shocking acts of violence to keep his victims in line.
Charged with racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking, the music mogul is accused of inducing female victims and male sex workers into drugged-up, sometimes dayslong sexual performances dubbed “Freak Offs.”
The indictment against him also refers obliquely to an attack on his former girlfriend, the R&B singer Cassie, that was captured on video.
The 54-year-old founder of Bad Boy Records is accused of striking, punching and dragging women, throwing objects and kicking them — and getting his personal assistants, security and household staff to help him hide it all.
“Not guilty,” Combs told a court, standing to speak after listening to the allegations with his uncuffed hands folded in his lap.
Federal prosecutors called Combs dangerous and urged that he be jailed without bail.
“Mr. Combs physically and sexually abused victims for decades. He used the vast resources of his company to facilitate his abuse and cover up his crimes. Simply put, he is a serial abuser and a serial obstructor,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Emily Johnson told a court.
She also said he had “extensive and exhaustive history of obstruction of justice,” including alleged bribery and witness intimidation.
His lawyers, meanwhile, proposed that he be released on a $50 million bond to home detention with electronic monitoring.
“He is not a perfect person. There has been drug use. He has been in toxic relationships,” attorney Marc Agnifilo told the court. The lawyer said Combs was receiving “treatment and therapy for things that he needs treatment and therapy for.”
