Footage of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ hotel arrest has surfaced
Just a few days after Sean “Diddy” Combs was taken into custody on federal charges related to sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation for prostitution, a video that allegedly depicts his arrest has been released.
The video, shared by TMZ on Friday, appears to show a man believed to be Combs entering a hotel lobby with several others, only to be quickly escorted away by two men. In another clip, four men can be seen bringing Combs out through the lobby doors with his hands behind his back, apparently in handcuffs.
The incident occurred on Monday at the Park Hyatt New York, where Combs had been residing for over a week. His legal team stated that he traveled to New York to voluntarily “surrender” to authorities.
YSL News has attempted to contact Combs’ legal representatives for their take on the video.
The morning following his arrest, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York released a detailed 14-page grand jury indictment, revealing an extensive federal investigation into the prominent hip-hop figure. Authorities claim the 54-year-old constructed a complex plan that exploited his wealth and celebrity status to fulfill his sexual desires in a “recurrent and widely known” pattern of abuse.
During his arraignment on Tuesday, Combs pleaded not guilty to the three charges against him. Until his trial, he is being held in isolation in the Special Housing Unit at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center, which has faced criticism for its poor conditions for inmates.
Despite facing a wave of civil lawsuits filed by alleged victims over misconduct that spans three decades, Combs continues to assert his innocence.
Judges deny Diddy’s bail request
On Wednesday, Combs’ attorneys sent a letter to U.S. District Judge Andrew L. Carter requesting his release on a $50 million bond, secured by the equity in his and his mother’s properties in Florida. They emphasized that Combs had made himself available to the government for detention and pointed out that he, his daughters, and his mother had surrendered their passports to legal counsel.
Nevertheless, two judges declined to grant Combs’ bond request this week. U.S. Magistrate Judge Robyn Tarnofsky supported the U.S. attorneys’ position, citing concerns that Combs could be a risk if released for home confinement.
According to a court transcript reviewed by YSL News, Tarnofsky expressed skepticism about whether Combs’ legal representation could effectively manage him, especially due to “significant concerns” regarding substance abuse and potential anger issues. “The danger, I think, is quite serious,” she remarked, concluding that the bond package proposed by his team would not ensure either his return to court or the safety of the community, or prevent witness tampering.
Evidence against Diddy reportedly includes multiple videos and numerous witnesses
In a letter dated Sept. 17 submitted to the judge, U.S. Attorney Damian Williams asserted that his office possesses “the testimony of dozens of witnesses and victims related to his ongoing abusive behavior, as well as evidence from numerous electronic devices belonging to him and his co-conspirators.”
Authorities have seized over 90 cellphones, laptops, cloud storage accounts, and at least 30 additional storage devices as part of their investigation. To obtain evidence from telecommunications providers, tech and social media giants, and Combs’ businesses, more than 300 grand jury subpoenas were issued.
“Numerous victims and witnesses have provided detailed, credible, and corroborated information against the defendant. Many of these individuals have directly experienced or witnessed violence and other offenses committed by the defendant,” wrote Williams. These accounts are further supported by financial, travel, and communication records, he noted.
Prosecutors claim to have numerous videos illustrating Combs’ so-called “freak offs”—reportedly long sexual performances involving sex workers and individuals he allegedly coerced through drug use and threats— which align with witness testimonies.
The indictment mentions that agents from Homeland Security Investigations confiscated drugs as well as over 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant, which were allegedly used during Combs’ “freak offs” during raids executed on March 25 at his residences. Additionally, multiple AR-15 rifles and large-capacity magazines were reportedly found.
Combs’ legal team has stated they plan to appeal the court’s bond decisions in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. His next court appearance is scheduled for October 9.
If you are a survivor of sexual assault, RAINN provides support through the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800.656.HOPE (4673) and Hotline.RAINN.org, as well as en español at RAINN.org/es.