The latest denial stems from growing concerns regarding potential witness tampering and misconduct. US District Judge Arun Subramanian concluded that no available release conditions could adequately ensure public safety or prevent interference with the judicial proceedings.
Combs has pleaded not guilty to the criminal charges and has denied over two dozen allegations of sexual assault presented against him in separate civil lawsuits.
Prosecutors claim that Combs operated a “criminal enterprise” that involved forced labor, kidnapping, and intimidation.
Adding complexity to his defense, prosecutors introduced evidence suggesting that Combs misused jail communication systems to influence witnesses and manipulate public perception in his favor.
Court filings reveal that Combs allegedly utilized an inmate messaging application, ContactMeASAP, to send hundreds of messages to various individuals, including those not on his approved contact list.
Additionally, prosecutors accused him of pressuring individuals to post supportive content on social media, including coordinating a video featuring his children to elicit sympathy.
Combs’s legal team has challenged these allegations, asserting that his ongoing detention obstructs their ability to prepare for his trial scheduled for May 2025.
The attorneys also questioned the legality of a recent search of Combs’s jail cell, during which prosecutors confiscated handwritten notes they claim indicate obstruction of justice.
Judge Subramanian ordered the destruction of the seized materials, citing attorney-client privilege, although prosecutors contended that this privilege was negated by Combs’s alleged tampering activities.
In addition to the ongoing criminal proceedings, numerous civil lawsuits have been filed against Combs, alleging abuse, coercion, blackmail, and threats, with some claims involving underage victims.
Attorney Lisa Bloom, representing one of the plaintiffs, asserts that Combs has attempted to influence witnesses from jail, a claim that his defense team refutes. Bloom also suggested that others associated with Combs may face legal repercussions, stating, “He didn’t do this alone. Those who conspire with predators must also face justice.”
Combs’s legal representatives had previously proposed a $50 million bail package that included house arrest and conditions such as a prohibition on female visitors, but the court declined this offer. Despite efforts to raise funds by selling properties in Los Angeles and Miami to secure the bond, his requests for release have consistently been denied.
Prosecutors have indicated that further charges or additional defendants may arise as their investigation progresses. Meanwhile, Combs remains incarcerated at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, asserting his innocence in the face of escalating legal difficulties.