New York — Sean “Diddy” Combs returned to a Manhattan federal courtroom Thursday for a pre-sentencing hearing that could affect whether two prostitution-related convictions are overturned or left standing ahead of his scheduled sentencing next week.
Combs, 55, was convicted on July 2 of two counts of transporting people across state lines for the purpose of prostitution but was acquitted of the most serious charges, including racketeering and sex trafficking. If the convictions are upheld, he faces a statutory maximum that is severe on paper, though prosecutors and the defense differ sharply on what term is appropriate.
At Thursday’s hearing, defense lawyers pressed arguments that could undercut the convictions or limit Combs’s exposure at sentencing — including a First Amendment line that they say would treat some of the conduct as amateur pornography rather than criminal activity. Prosecutors pushed back, saying the record supports the convictions and that the government will recommend a significant sentence.
Combs has remained in custody since his arrest in September 2024 after a judge denied bail. His legal team has told the court that time already served — and Combs’s conduct in detention — should weigh heavily in mitigation; they previously asked the judge to impose a 14-month term, which they say would largely be covered by time he has already spent behind bars. Prosecutors have signaled they will submit their own recommendation ahead of sentencing.
Family members were in the gallery for Thursday’s appearance; courtroom sketches and reporting showed Combs acknowledging relatives after the hearing and offering brief words of thanks. Observers said the hearing put the judge, Arun Subramanian, on track to decide whether any legal errors warrant overturning parts of the conviction before the formal sentencing hearing, currently set for Oct. 3.
Legal experts say the coming days could determine whether the case’s most contested legal theories survive scrutiny and how much additional prison time, if any, Combs will serve. Whatever the outcome, the hearing and the impending sentence are likely to bring renewed public attention to a high-profile trial that divided jurors’ views on the most serious allegations while convicting on the narrower prostitution counts.
