Diddy has been denied bail, less than two months ahead of his sentencing on prostitution-related charges later this year.
On Monday (August 4), Judge Arun Subramanian rejected Combs’ request for release from the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center, where the 55-year-old has spent nearly 11 months in pre-sentencing detention.
In court documents obtained by PEOPLE, Subramanian stated that Combs had not met the legal threshold required for release.
He wrote that the court must “find by clear and convincing evidence that the person is not likely to flee or pose a danger to the safety of any other person or the community if released”.
The judge concluded that Combs "fails to satisfy his burden to demonstrate an entitlement to release," and dismissed the possibility of release based on medical or humanitarian grounds.
He noted that such leniency required "'exceptional reasons' warranting release," such as “advanced age and serious medical conditions,” none of which applied in Combs’ case.
The ruling comes days after Virginia "Gina" Huynh, one of Combs’ accusers and a central witness in his trial, submitted a letter to the court asking for leniency.
Huynh, who identified herself publicly for the first time, urged the judge to grant bail so that Combs could “continue caring for his family and fulfilling his responsibilities while still subject to the Court's supervision".
Despite that appeal, Judge Subramanian reaffirmed his stance. The decision follows a July 28 motion from Combs’ legal team requesting a $50 million bond, which was also denied.
The dad-of-seven was convicted on July 2 of two federal charges under the Mann Act related to the transportation of women, including ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura and another identified only as “Jane,” across state lines for prostitution.
He was acquitted on more severe counts of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy.
Combs' sentencing is scheduled for October 3, at which point he will have served over a year in jail, time that will be credited toward any final sentence. He faces up to 20 years in prison.
Combs’ attorney, Marc Agnifilo, has since filed a 62-page motion to vacate the convictions or secure a retrial, arguing that the Mann Act was misapplied.
“Sean Combs has basically been convicted for using the services of a sex worker, and that’s just not really prosecuted anymore,” Agnifilo told Variety. “He’s been convicted as a john, not a pimp. That’s an exceptional circumstance.”
The judge’s latest decision also cited Combs’ history of domestic violence, which the defense acknowledged in court.
Among the incidents was a 2024 assault allegation from a woman identified only as “Jane,” who also testified about a disturbing incident involving a male escort.
Meanwhile, speculation over a possible presidential pardon has drawn national attention.
President Donald Trump spoke to Newsmax on August 1, and said Combs was “sort of half-innocent” but suggested clemency was unlikely: “It’s hard… We’re human beings. And we don’t like to have things cloud our judgment… I would say so.”
Although Combs’ team insists they are not pursuing a pardon, Rolling Stone has reported that allies of the rapper have been privately lobbying for one, allegedly offering mid-six-figure payments to Trump-aligned operatives.
Survivors’ advocacy groups have pushed back, warning that clemency would “send a devastating message".