In the United States, a new chapter has unfolded in the legal case involving hip-hop mogul Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs.
On Thursday, his legal team asked a federal appeals court in Manhattan to overturn his four-year prison sentence tied to prostitution-related offenses. The three-judge panel at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit did not issue an immediate ruling after hearing roughly two hours of arguments.
At the close of proceedings, Circuit Judge William J. Nardini described the matter as “exceptionally difficult,” noting that it raises legal questions rarely addressed in federal courts.
During the hearing, judges examined whether the sentencing judge improperly considered aspects of charges for which Combs had been acquitted. His lawyer, Alexandra Shapiro, argued that the sentence was unusually severe compared to similar cases involving defendants with comparable records.
Representing the government, Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik disputed that claim, stating that the four-year, two-month sentence was actually below federal guideline recommendations and consistent with similar rulings in the Second Circuit.
Combs, currently incarcerated in New Jersey, is appealing both his conviction and sentence. He was found guilty last July under the Mann Act, which prohibits transporting individuals across state lines for sexual crimes. However, he was acquitted of more serious charges, including sex trafficking and racketeering, which could have led to a life sentence.
In delivering the sentence, Judge Arun Subramanian emphasized that the punishment was based on the convictions alone, though the law allows courts to consider broader aspects of a defendant’s conduct and background.
Combs, 56, has been in custody since his arrest in September 2024, with a projected release date of April 2028, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons. His legal team is seeking either a reversal of the conviction or a reduced sentence.
While written filings raised arguments related to First Amendment protections, those issues were not addressed during Thursday’s hearing. Instead, much of the debate focused on whether the sentencing judge relied on allegations—such as fraud and coercion—that the jury had effectively rejected.
The trial itself drew widespread attention, offering a glimpse into the private life of one of music’s most powerful figures, with testimony detailing allegations of violence, drug use, and controversial sexual activities. Combs did not testify in his defense, though his lawyers acknowledged instances of personal misconduct while arguing that prosecutors overstretched in framing his behavior as federal crimes.
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