Judge Weighs Sean 'Diddy' Combs' Defense Argument Ahead of Sentencing in Mann Act Case
The federal judge presiding over Sean “Diddy” Combs’ upcoming sentencing is reviewing a key defense argument that could impact whether the music mogul’s conviction stands.
Sean “Diddy” Combs awaits sentencing as Judge Subramanian reviews defense arguments on Mann Act charges after split trial verdict.
On Thursday, Judge Arun Subramanian told the court he would issue a ruling “very shortly” on whether Combs’ two convictions for transportation to engage in prostitution should be vacated if a new trial is required. Combs, 55, is currently set to return to court for sentencing on October 3.
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Court proceedings closed for the week without an announcement from Judge Subramanian, leaving Combs’ sentencing plans temporarily unresolved.
The split verdict at Combs’ high-profile federal trial earlier this year saw him acquitted of racketeering and sex trafficking charges but convicted on two lesser counts tied to the Mann Act. His defense team is now challenging the interpretation of what legally constitutes prostitution under the statute.
Defense attorneys argued that Combs neither participated in sexual acts with male sex workers nor profited financially. Instead, prosecutors presented evidence that Combs funded the hiring of sex workers for “freak-off” parties, which often involved his long-term girlfriends engaging in sex acts as he observed.
Central to the defense’s position is whether voyeurism falls under the Mann Act, which criminalizes transporting individuals across state lines for prostitution. Defense attorney Mark Tack told the court it does not, while prosecutor Meredith Foster countered that paying for the transportation itself fulfills the statute’s requirements.
Additional testimony described Combs’ involvement in directing the events, including controlling music, lighting, and filming. Defense lawyers claimed applying the Mann Act in this context could infringe on Combs’ freedom of expression, a point prosecutors dismissed as irrelevant to the law’s intent.
A sentencing motion filed by Combs’ legal team recommends a maximum of 14 months. If accepted, time served since September 2024 at a Brooklyn federal facility could see Combs released in November. Prosecutors, however, have indicated they will push for a sentence of at least four years.
Each of the two counts carries a potential 10-year sentence, meaning Combs could face up to 20 years in federal prison depending on Judge Subramanian’s ruling.
