NEW YORK — On Wednesday, Sean “Diddy” Combs was denied bail while he prepares for a trial scheduled for May concerning allegations of sex trafficking. The ruling, issued by U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian, was influenced by evidence indicating a significant risk of potential witness tampering on Combs’ part, as well as violations of jail regulations during his incarceration.

During a bail hearing held last week, Combs’ attorneys proposed a $50 million bail package, contending that this amount would be adequate to ensure he would neither flee the jurisdiction nor intimidate any potential witnesses. However, two previous judges had already determined that the founder of Bad Boy Records posed a risk to public safety, warranting his continued detention.

Lawyers representing Combs did not provide immediate responses to inquiries regarding the judge’s recent decision. The 55-year-old music mogul has pleaded not guilty to serious allegations of coercion and abuse against women over many years, with claims that associates and employees facilitated these actions. The indictment outlined disturbing accusations that Combs employed blackmail and intimidation tactics, including instances of kidnapping, arson, and physical assaults.

Last month, a federal appeals court judge refused to grant Combs an immediate release while a panel of three judges from the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan reviews his request for bail. Prosecutors maintain that no set of bail conditions could adequately protect the public or quell the possibility of Combs fleeing the legal proceedings.

Furthermore, prosecutors argue that even while detained at a federal facility in Brooklyn, Combs has taken measures to influence social media narratives with the aim of swaying jurors and has sought to leak information he believes may benefit his defense. They also claim he has reached out to potential witnesses through intermediaries.

Attorneys for Combs counter that the alleged sexual misconduct highlighted in the indictment stemmed from consensual interactions between adults. They also assert that new evidence contradicts accusations that Combs exploited his “power and prestige” to coerce women into drugged and orchestrated sexual encounters involving male sex workers, references dubbed as “Freak Offs.”