[KARAH RUCKER]

A DISTRICT JUDGE UPHELD A DECISION WEDNESDAY TO DENY HIP HOP SUPERSTAR SEAN “DIDDY” COMBS BAIL AFTER ACCUSATIONS OF WITNESS TAMPERING.

COMBS’ LEGAL TEAM CLAIMED THE RAPPER COULD POST A 50 MILLION DOLLAR BOND BUT JUDGE ROBYN TARNOFSKY DENIED THEIR REQUEST TUESDAY.

SAYING, EVEN IF BOND WERE POSTED, SHE COULDN’T “REASONABLY ASSURE HIS RETURN TO COURT OR THE SAFETY OF THE COMMUNITY, OR A LACK OF WITNESS TAMPERING.”

AUTHORITIES BELIEVE DIDDY TRIED TO SILENCE PEOPLE WHO MIGHT SPEAK OUT AGAINST HIM.

U-S DISTRICT JUDGE ANDREW CARTER JUNIOR UPHELD THE DECISION WEDNESDAY AFTER AN APPEAL FROM COMBS.

PROSECUTORS SAY SINCE BEING SUED LAST YEAR BY HIS EX-GIRLFRIEND, WHO ACCUSED HIM OF YEARS OF PHYSICAL AND SEXUAL ABUSE, COMBS HAS TRIED TO GET IN TOUCH WITH HER AND OTHER WITNESSES WHO HAVE RECEIVED GRAND JURY SUBPOENAS, AS WELL AS A PERSON HE HARMED. HE REPORTEDLY CALLED OR TEXTED ONE OF THE POTENTIAL WITNESSES 58 TIMES OVER A PERIOD OF FOUR DAYS.

ARGUING HIS POWER AND INFLUENCE GIVES HIM THE ABILITY TO “INTIMIDATE” WITNESSES AND VICTIMS, PROSECUTORS SAY WITNESSES THEY INTERVIEWED EXPRESSED A FEAR OF COMBS.

COMBS DEFENSE CONTENDS HE DIDN’T KNOW HE WAS UNDER A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION WHEN HE CONTACTED THE WITNESSES AND VICTIMS AND DO NOT SEE IT AS AN “OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE.” ADDING, HE IS NOT A THREAT TO FLEE AND HAS “EARNED” THE COURT’S TRUST.

COMBS IS INDICTED ON ACCUSATIONS HE RAN A “CRIMINAL ENTERPRISE” THROUGH HIS BUSINESSES– WHICH INVOLVED SEX TRAFFICKING, KIDNAPPING, ARSON, AND FORCED LABOR.

COMBS HAS PLEADED NOT GUILTY.

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FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS– I’M KARAH RUCKER.