Sean “Diddy” Combs returned to New York federal court on Thursday, where his lawyers asked a judge to vacate his recent prostitution convictions or grant him a new trial. The high-profile case, which has gripped the entertainment industry for more than a year, centres on allegations that the music mogul organised paid sexual encounters for his girlfriends.
In court, Combs’ defence team argued that his convictions represented a misuse of the Mann Act a century-old federal law originally designed to combat human trafficking and the sexual exploitation of women. Judge Arun Subramanian presided over the hearing but adjourned without issuing an immediate ruling, leaving Combs’ fate uncertain as his sentencing date approaches.
Combs, 55, has been in custody since his arrest in September 2024. He was acquitted in July of the more severe racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking charges but found guilty on two counts of arranging interstate travel for individuals engaged in prostitution. His lawyers insist that applying the Mann Act in his case is “unprecedented” because Combs allegedly only observed sexual activity rather than paying for it.
“Mr Combs had no commercial motive,” defence attorney Alexandra Shapiro told the court, portraying him instead as a voyeur who enjoyed producing and watching amateur pornography.
She accused prosecutors of having “lost all perspective” by pursuing an enhanced sentence that she described as “wildly out of proportion.”
In filings submitted ahead of the hearing, Combs’ legal team emphasised that the Grammy-winning artist has already suffered immense personal and professional damage.
“Mr Combs’s celebrity status in the realms of music, fashion, spirits, media, and finance has been shattered and Mr Combs’s legacy has been destroyed,” his lawyers wrote, adding that his seven children “desperately await his return to their lives.”
The prosecution, however, maintains that Combs played an active role in arranging encounters with male sex workers, some of whom testified during trial that they were beaten, kicked, or choked by the rapper. Prosecutors have asked the judge to impose several years in prison, far longer than the 14-month maximum recommended by the defence.
As Combs waved to supporters in the courtroom, the hearing underscored the sharp divide between both sides. His attorneys contend that his celebrity status made him a target, while prosecutors insist the conviction reflects serious wrongdoing. If the judge declines to grant an acquittal, Combs’ lawyers are demanding a retrial, citing “severe spillover prejudice from reams of inflammatory evidence” presented by the government.
Combs is due back in court on October 3 for sentencing, where he faces up to ten years in prison on each count. Until then, the music mogul remains behind bars as one of the most closely watched celebrity trials in recent US history continues to unfold.
Erizia Rubyjeana
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