Diddy seeks release on $50m bond ahead of sentencing, cites jail danger

Sean “Diddy” Combs’ legal team has urged a federal judge to grant the hip-hop mogul a $50 million bond release ahead of his October 3 sentencing, arguing that his continued detention is both dangerous and legally unusual.

In a court filing submitted on Tuesday, Combs’ attorney, Marc Agnifilo, highlighted safety concerns at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn, where the music executive has been held since September 2024. He argued that Combs is being unfairly treated compared to others convicted of similar prostitution-related offenses, who are typically released before sentencing.

“Sean Combs should not be in jail for this conduct.

“In fact, he may be the only person currently in a United States jail for being any sort of john,” Agnifilo wrote.

Combs, 55, was found not guilty on July 2 of the most serious charges three counts of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy which could have carried life sentences. However, he was convicted on two lesser counts related to transportation for the purpose of prostitution, which carry a maximum of 10 years each. Prosecutors have acknowledged that federal sentencing guidelines recommend a sentence far below that maximum.

The US Attorney’s Office in Manhattan, which brought the charges, has yet to respond publicly to the latest court filing.

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Prosecutors alleged that Combs used his business influence, physical violence, and threats to coerce two former girlfriends into taking part in prolonged, drug-fueled sex parties involving male sex workers referred to during trial as “freak-offs.” Combs denied the allegations and insisted the women participated willingly.

After the verdict, US District Judge Arun Subramanian denied an earlier bail request, citing the weight of evidence showing Combs had committed acts of violence.

In the new motion, Combs’ legal team contends that his prosecution under prostitution laws is atypical because he did not profit financially from the alleged acts. They further argued that the difficult and unsafe conditions at MDC including reported fights in his unit qualify as “exceptional circumstances” justifying his pre-sentencing release.

The U.S. Bureau of Prisons, which oversees MDC, has claimed it is making “intensive efforts” to improve conditions at the facility, but did not respond to a request for comment.