Music mogul Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs on Monday, September 30 appealed the federal judge’s decision to keep him in custody, following a series of serious charges, including racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and prostitution-related crimes. 

Combs, who pleaded not guilty to all accusations, was arrested earlier this month and is awaiting trial. They added attorneys Anthony Ricco and Alexandra Shapiro, indicating a strengthened defence strategy for the high-profile case.

Combs’ legal team had previously proposed a 50 million dollar bond, home detention, and strict limits on visitors as conditions for his release. However, Judge Andrew Carter rejected the offer, agreeing with prosecutors who labelled Combs a flight risk and a potential threat to the community. The judge’s decision was influenced by concerns that Combs had allegedly attempted to tamper with witnesses involved in the investigation.

The initial bail request was denied by a magistrate judge, prompting Combs’ legal team to turn to Judge Carter, who will oversee the upcoming trial. 

Ricco and Shapiro join Marc Agnifilo, Combs’ long-time attorney, as they prepare for what could be a lengthy legal battle. The hip-hop mogul is currently being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, sharing accommodation with notable figures like FTX co-founder Sam Bankman-Fried and former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández. 

Combs’ trial is yet to be scheduled.