Music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs is seeking release on a $50 million bond while he awaits sentencing in October, following his recent acquittal on the most serious federal charges he faced earlier this month. A jury had found him not guilty of those charges.
In a court filing submitted on Tuesday, Combs’s lawyer cited dangerous conditions at the Metropolitan Detention Centre (MDC) in Brooklyn. The filing also argued that individuals convicted of similar prostitution-related offenses are typically released pending sentencing.
“Sean Combs should not be in jail for this conduct,” attorney Marc Agnifilo stated.
“In fact, he may be the only person currently in a United States jail for being any sort of john, and certainly the only person in jail for hiring adult male escorts for him and his girlfriend.”
A spokesperson for the US attorney’s office in Manhattan has not yet responded to requests for comment.
Prosecutors have consistently argued that Combs poses a flight risk.
Combs, 55, faces a potential maximum sentence of ten years in prison on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. These charges stem from allegations of transporting individuals, including his girlfriends and male sex workers, across state lines for sexual encounters.
A conviction on racketeering conspiracy or sex trafficking charges could have resulted in a life sentence for the hip-hop icon.
Immediately after his acquittal on July 2, Mr. Agnifilo requested Combs’ release on bond.
However, Judge Arun Subramanian denied the request, stating that Combs had not demonstrated, with clear and convincing evidence, a “lack of danger to any person or the community.”
Combs is the latest high-profile inmate to be held at MDC Brooklyn, the only federal jail in New York City. Previous inmates include R Kelly, Ghislaine Maxwell, and cryptocurrency fraudster Sam Bankman-Fried.
