Lawyers for Sean “Diddy” Combs have filed an appeal for pretrial release with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, Page Six has learned.
The appeal challenges the Southern District of New York's decision to deny the rapper-turned-mogul bail based on charges of obstruction of justice and witness tampering.
Combs' team is calling for his immediate release on appropriate bail conditions, citing insufficient evidence for his detention and legal errors in the court's decision.
The Bad Boy Records founder, 54, was arrested last month on racketeering conspiracy charges. Sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion. Transportation for engaging in prostitution.
He has pleaded not guilty, but was denied bail and remains held at Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center.
Prosecutors feared Combs would threaten witnesses and disrupt the case if released from prison. They also suggested that given his wealth and access to a private plane, it was a risk to fly.
The hip-hop star was even willing to pay up to $50 million in bail. Instead of cash, he reportedly offered his $48 million Miami mansion and his mother's home as collateral.
Combs also told the judge he was willing to wear a GPS monitor and promised to restrict his travel from Miami to New York.
His lawyer went on to claim that he is in the process of selling the plane, which is said to be stationed in Los Angeles.
The defense argued in its appeal that the government failed to present clear and convincing evidence that Combs posed a danger to the community or engaged in witness tampering, an argument that “ “vague and speculative.”
His lawyers went on to say that the district court made legal errors in “imposing a hasty judgment without sufficient factual findings or substantive analysis,” which led to an “unreasonable denial of bail.” insisted.
This story is unfolding…
