Prosecutors slam Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ conviction and sentence appeal
Prosecutors have responded to Sean ‘Diddy‘ Combs’ fast-tracked appeal following his trial last year.
In October 2025, Combs attempted to speed up the appeal of his conviction and 50-month sentence after being found guilty of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.
Jurors decided that the rapper arranged drug-fuelled sex marathons between his girlfriends and male escorts.
However, Combs’ legal team claimed that Judge Arun Subramanian acted as a “13th juror” during the trial.
According to Billboard, prosecutors responded, “Combs seeks an unprecedented rule against consideration of any conduct that could have also supported a conviction on an acquitted count. That rule would eliminate sentencing judges’ long-recognised discretion to engage in fact-finding to aid their sentencing decisions, forcing them to blind their eyes to the actual conduct of each defendant before them.”
They continued, “Combs’s intent to watch the sex sessions live cannot bring his interstate transportation of others to have sex for money within the First Amendment’s protection. Were it otherwise, any defendant who transported others to engage in prostitution could escape liability simply by watching or filming the sex.”
Last year, Combs’ lawyer, Alexandra Shapiro, asked for the case to be heard in just six months to avoid him serving a lengthy prison time.
“An expedited briefing and argument schedule is critical to ensure that Mr Combs’ appeal of his sentence does not become moot while the appeal is pending,” she said. “To ensure that Mr Combs could meaningfully benefit from any appellate ruling vacating his sentence, we have proposed a schedule that would expedite this court’s consideration of Mr Combs’s appeal.”
Prosecutors and defence attorneys will face off during arguments in April at the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan.
For help, advice or more information regarding sexual harassment, assault and rape in the UK, visit the Rape Crisis charity website. In the US, visit RAINN.