Sean “Diddy” Combs was back in the spotlight Thursday, though not in a courtroom himself. His legal team appeared before a three-judge federal appellate panel to challenge the 50-month prison sentence he received following his prostitution conviction last October. Combs did not attend the hearing in person.
His attorneys have been vocal in their criticism of the outcome, describing the sentencing as a fundamental miscarriage of justice. In court filings leading up to Thursday’s appearance, they took direct aim at the trial judge, arguing the sentence was improperly calculated and legally unsupportable.
What the defense argued in court
At the heart of the appeal is a legal dispute over how Combs’ sentence was determined. Defense attorney Alexandra Shapiro argued before the panel that judges should not be permitted to factor in conduct related to charges for which a defendant has already been acquitted when deciding on a prison term. She framed the issue as one with broad implications for the integrity of jury verdicts and public trust in the justice system.
The defense contends that Combs’ sentence under the Mann Act, which governs the transporting of individuals across state lines for prostitution, is roughly four times longer than what defendants typically receive for similar convictions. The charge carries a maximum of 10 years per count, and Combs was convicted on two counts. He was acquitted of the more serious charges of racketeering and sex trafficking, which had carried the possibility of a life sentence.
His attorneys argued that the trial judge, Arun Subramanian, improperly used what is known as “acquitted conduct” to increase the sentence, and that he also enhanced the penalty based on findings that the crimes involved fraud, coercion and that Combs had acted as a leader or organizer of criminal activity.
The defense’s broader legal claims
Beyond the sentencing dispute, Combs’ team has raised additional arguments about the nature of the conduct underlying his conviction. Attorneys described the recordings at the center of the case, which involved his girlfriends and male sex workers, as a form of personal expression protected under the First Amendment. They also argued that the legal definition of prostitution should be interpreted more narrowly and should not extend to the behavior for which Combs was convicted.
The team is seeking one of three outcomes: a full overturning of the conviction, an immediate release from custody, or a vacating of the sentence and a resentencing to a shorter term.
How the appeals process works
Thursday’s hearing followed a structured format. The defense presented oral arguments first, limited to alleged legal errors rather than any new evidence. Prosecutors from New York then had the opportunity to respond. Each side was allotted 10 minutes to make their case before the panel, according to court filings.
Where things stand for Combs today
Combs is currently housed at a low-security federal prison in Fort Dix, New Jersey, where he was transferred last year after spending time at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn following his 2024 arrest. His legal team had long pushed for the transfer, citing safety concerns at the Brooklyn facility.
According to the Bureau of Prisons, his scheduled release date is April 25, 2028, though that timeline could shift depending on how the appellate court rules. A decision from the three-judge panel is not expected immediately.
Source: NewsNation, as reported by WDHN. The Associated Press contributed to the original report.
