Diddy proposes $50 million bail after Indian-origin judge rejects gag order

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has filed a fresh request for bail, seeking to be released ahead of his May 5 trial on sex trafficking and racketeering charges. The hip-hop mogul, who has pleaded not guilty to the charges, has been denied bail twice since his arrest in September. His lawyers argue that new evidence and changed circumstances merit a reconsideration, proposing a $50 million bail package. This comes as US district judge Arun Subramanian, who is overseeing the criminal case, denied Combs' request for a gag order that would prevent his accusers from speaking publicly. Combs' lawyers had argued that the approximately 30 civil lawsuits accusing him of misconduct and abuse were undermining his right to a fair trial.

In the new court filing made on Friday, Combs’ legal team submitted a “far more robust” bail proposal, which includes strict conditions such as around-the-clock security monitoring and limited communication, restricted to his attorneys. The $50 million figure remains unchanged from previous proposals. They also pointed to new evidence they claim undermines the government's case. Specifically, they dispute allegations that a 2016 video, which reportedly shows Combs physically assaulting his then-girlfriend, was part of a “coerced” sexual event as described in the indictment. According to his lawyers, the footage merely captures a brief moment from a long-standing consensual relationship.

The filing also raised concerns about the jail conditions Combs is enduring at the Metropolitan detention center in Brooklyn, which his defence claims infringe on his constitutional rights to effectively participate in his defence.

Meanwhile, prosecutors have criticised Combs’ legal team for attempting to “hijack” the case by requesting early disclosure of evidence and identifying the victims. They argue that such actions, including a call for a gag order to prevent public statements from accusers, could compromise the safety of witnesses and undermine the judicial process. Prosecutors also firmly rejected claims that they had leaked the damaging video of Combs assaulting his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, saying it was a deliberate attempt by the defence to suppress evidence.

Combs has been in federal custody since his arrest on September 16 and is scheduled to face trial in May. He faces serious charges, including racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, and kidnapping, among others. The case has drawn significant media attention, particularly with numerous civil lawsuits alleging sexual and physical abuse over the past 25 years.

The case was recently reassigned to Judge Arun Subramanian, who will now preside over Combs' criminal trial. Subramanian, a graduate of Columbia Law School, was appointed to the US District Court for the Southern District of New York in 2022. He becomes the first judge of Indian-origin in the court’s history.