At court on Tuesday, Judge Robyn Tarnofsky ordered Combs detained pending trial, saying, “My concern is that this is a crime that happens behind closed doors.”
The judge noted the “power imbalance” between Combs and the alleged victims, and she mentioned Combs’ alleged drug use and violence.
Federal prosecutors wanted Combs detained, arguing in a letter to the judge that he’s “dangerous” and poses an ongoing threat to the community.
“The defendant also poses a significant risk of obstructing justice,” prosecutors said. “During the course of the charged conduct, the defendant has attempted to bribe security staff and threatened and interfered with witnesses to his criminal conduct. He has already tried to obstruct the Government’s investigation of this case, repeatedly contacting victims and witnesses and feeding them false narratives of events.”
“There are simply no conditions that would ensure that the defendant’s efforts to obstruct and tamper with witnesses will stop,” prosecutors said.
Combs’ attorney is appealing the decision to hold him without bail. The appeal hearing is set for Wednesday.
Agnifilo had urged the judge to release Combs on a $50 million bail package, saying his client is not the flight risk prosecutors portrayed. The lawyer said Combs arrived in New York on Sept. 5 and “came here to face it.”
