Any hope to spend Thanksgiving with his loved-ones that Sean Combs may have is now dashed. His third bail application is denied

The CD cover of Sean Combs’s 2006 album Press Play

For some people, the third time’s not a charm. Sean Combs has now applied for bail thrice. He was, however, denied any semblance of release by the New York judge presently overseeing his sex-trafficking case, despite the defence’s proposition of bail terms that they say were more restrictive than jail. Mr Combs has been resolute in getting out of the Metropolitan Detention Centre in Brooklyn, where he is still held, purportedly amid unfavourable conditions. Concerns of witness tampering has deterred the judge from granting the organiser of the now-infamous “freak off” parties of excess. The same apprehension was taken into consideration by two previous judges reviewing his earlier bail applications, not to mention the serious risk if Mr Combs was released, as well as the questionable behaviours now exposed while he was incarcerated. It is hard to see any compelling reason to grant him release from detention prior to his trial in May 2025.

Apart from sex trafficking, the rapper, once also a powerful fashion figure with his own line of clothing, is also charged for racketeering conspiracy and transportation for prostitution. Mr Combs was arrested in New York in September, and has entered a plea of not guilty, denying the accusations of more than two dozen sexual assaults that were filed as civil lawsuits before and after his arrest. Damning evidence against him include a video shared by CNN in May showing him brutally attacking former girlfriend Cassie Ventura in the lift lobby of a Californian hotel. Given his tendency for violent outbreaks, the judge did not, understandably, think it was appropriate to release Mr Combs on bail.

The former Bad Boy Record head has been busy while in custody, according to media reports. He has supposedly been active from his cell, trying all means that prosecutors believe will influence witnesses in his case, including the sharing videos of his children celebrating their birthdays on social media in the hope that they could impact prospective jurors. Prosecutors also accused Mr Combs of exploiting jail communication and privileges to influence witnesses, as well as getting those in his inner circle to share online posts that could improve public opinion of him, to the betterment of his defence. It is uncertain if Sean Combs is aware that, away from the notorious Metropolitan Detention Centre, few people, if any, believe he is innocent, and not deserving censure.

Photo illustration: Just So