Sean "Diddy" Combs' legal team is fiercely contesting his pre-sentencing detention conditions, arguing for his release on a $50 million bond while he awaits his October sentencing. At the heart of their argument is the claim that the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn, where Combs is currently held, is subjecting him to "horrible" conditions, including a prolonged lack of sunlight.
According to Combs' lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, the conditions at MDC Brooklyn are not only severe but also unusual for individuals convicted of similar offenses. Agnifilo emphasized that others convicted of prostitution-related crimes are typically released before sentencing, questioning why Combs is being held in jail. He went so far as to suggest that Combs may be the only person in the United States currently incarcerated for actions related to hiring escorts for himself and his girlfriend.
Agnifilo's argument extends beyond the general conditions of the facility, specifically addressing the alleged deprivation of sunlight. The lawyer claims Combs has not seen sunlight in 11 months.
In response to Combs' request for release on bond, prosecutors have maintained their stance that he remains a flight risk. They also assert that his conviction on prostitution-related counts carries a mandatory requirement that he remain in jail prior to sentencing, unless he can prove exceptional circumstances, which they argue he cannot. Furthermore, prosecutors contend that Combs poses a danger to the community, a claim that Agnifilo vehemently disputes.
The legal battle surrounding Combs' detention conditions is unfolding amidst his efforts to challenge his conviction. Combs' legal team has filed a motion asking Judge Arun Subramanian to either throw out the guilty verdicts on the prostitution-related counts or grant him a new trial. They argue that the convictions represent a unique misapplication of the federal Mann Act, which prohibits interstate commerce related to prostitution. His lawyers argue that none of the elements normally used for Mann Act convictions, including profiting from sex work or coercion, were present here.
Judge Subramanian had previously denied a request from Agnifilo that Combs be released on bail while he awaits sentencing, citing a video of Combs beating a former girlfriend and photographs showing injuries to another ex-girlfriend.
Combs, 55, faces a potential prison sentence of up to a decade on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, stemming from allegations that he flew people across the country, including his girlfriends and male sex workers, for sexual encounters. While he was acquitted of more serious charges such as racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking, these initial charges could have resulted in a life sentence. Prosecutors estimate that federal sentencing guidelines could lead to a prison term of four to five years. Combs' lawyers, however, believe that the guidelines, if properly calculated, will call for 21 to 27 months in prison.
