Sean “Diddy” Combs has decided to drop his appeal for bail, meaning he will remain in custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn until his criminal trial begins in May.
The voluntary dismissal of the appeal indicates that Combs will not pursue the district court’s denial of his request to be released on bail. His attorneys filed a document stating, “Mr. Combs does not seek to appeal the district court’s denial of his renewed motion and hereby moves to voluntarily dismiss the appeal.”
This filing comes after a Manhattan federal judge denied Combs’ request for bail more than two weeks ago, citing “compelling evidence of Combs’s propensity for violence” and a “serious risk of witness tampering.”
Combs’ legal team had proposed that the rapper be released on a $50 million bond and placed under house arrest with stringent conditions. However, prosecutors countered, arguing that Combs was attempting to “subvert the integrity” of the case from jail and would likely continue such actions if freed.
Further opposing his release, the judge noted evidence that Combs had “initiated and had unexplained communication” with a witness set to testify before the grand jury and had likely violated prison rules since his indictment in September.
Combs faces charges related to operating a large criminal enterprise driven by his desire for “s3xual gratification.” Allegations include hosting “freak off” parties where he and others allegedly drugged victims and coerced them into sexual acts.
Combs’ trial is scheduled to begin on May 5.
