No Bail for Diddy: Third Attempt Denied, Trial Wait Could Keep Him Behind Bars for Months

A Manhattan federal judge has denied Sean "Diddy" Combs' third attempt at securing bail in his sex trafficking and racketeering case, ensuring the rap mogul remains behind bars as the case moves forward.

The ruling, issued late Wednesday by Judge Arun Subramanian, came down with a single word in capital letters: "DENIED." Combs had hoped to spend Thanksgiving with his family in a three-bedroom Manhattan apartment under 24-hour surveillance, part of a $50 million bail package his lawyers had proposed. Instead, Combs will remain in the Metropolitan Correctional Center.

Judge Subramanian's decision underscored the severity of the charges against Combs. "No condition or combination of conditions will reasonably assure the safety of the community," the judge wrote. The denial highlighted concerns about Combs' potential danger to others if released.

On Friday, Combs' family, including his 17-year-old twin daughters, Jessie and D'Lila, attended a bail hearing. Last year, the twins spent Thanksgiving with their father as he served turkey dinners to the homeless in Miami. That Thanksgiving also marked the day the Adult Survivors Act opened a one-year window for alleged victims of sex crimes to seek civil claims, which has led to several lawsuits against Combs.

In 2023, Casandra "Cassie" Ventura, Combs' former girlfriend, sued him for alleged rape and years of abuse. Combs settled the case a day later, but on Thanksgiving Day, two more women —Joi Dickerson-Neal and Liza Gardner — filed lawsuits alleging he raped them in the early '90s. Dickerson-Neal's suit says she reported the alleged assault to police, but was told she needed corroboration from witnesses, a common roadblock before the #MeToo movement.

Combs has denied all allegations, but his behavior, including alleged drug-fueled "freak-offs," drew federal attention, leading to his September indictment. The charges describe years of abuse, coercion, and control, alleging Combs used his business empire to create a criminal enterprise involving sex trafficking, forced labor, and more.

Combs' lawyers had already tried and failed twice to get him released on bail. Prosecutors argued that a multimillion-dollar bail package would create a "two-tier" justice system favoring the wealthy. They also highlighted Combs' repeated violations of communication rules at the detention center, deeming him too dangerous to release.

Judge Subramanian cited these concerns, referencing seized firearms, including AR-15s with defaced serial numbers, and the indictment's claims of Combs' use of violence to intimidate victims and witnesses. He also quoted a text from Ventura after a 2016 incident in which Combs allegedly assaulted her in a hotel hallway: "I have a black eye and a fat lip. You are sick for thinking it’s OK to do what you’ve done… I still have crazy bruising."

Combs entered the courtroom with a smile for his twin daughters, but the judge's ruling means he will likely stay in custody until his trial. If convicted, the music mogul could face many more Thanksgivings behind bars.