Sean “Diddy” Combs‘ plea for acquittal or a new trial received a swift rejection on Tuesday, September 30, mere days ahead of his anticipated sentencing.
In a ruling reported by People and Deadline, Judge Arun Subramanian stated that the “government proved its case many times over.” He added that this evidence alone could negate Combs’ defense.
This decision follows a hearing on Thursday, September 25, held in New York to address the rapper’s motion for relief.
Diddy’s legal team had submitted a motion in July, seeking either an acquittal or a retrial for the beleaguered music titan, who is now 55. Earlier that month, Combs was pronounced guilty on two counts regarding transportation for the purpose of engaging in prostitution, though he was acquitted of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking charges. He maintained a not guilty plea across the board following his arrest in September 2024.
The verdict on July 2 emerged from a trial heavily scrutinized by the public, lasting nearly two months. Notably, Diddy’s ex-girlfriend Cassie, with whom he had a tumultuous on-again, off-again relationship from 2007 to 2018, took the stand as a key prosecution witness. She detailed allegations of both physical and sexual abuse, which Diddy has vehemently denied.
In November 2023, Cassie, now 39, filed a civil lawsuit accusing Diddy of various forms of abuse. Following a swift denial from Combs regarding the allegations, the pair reportedly settled the matter out of court within a day. Many of these allegations were revisited during Diddy’s federal trial, where Cassie testified that her initial settlement was worth $20 million.
Diddy has made several bail requests since his arrest last year, all of which have been turned down by Judge Subramanian. The latest denial occurred in August when Diddy’s attorneys argued for his release based on “exceptional circumstances.” The judge, however, stated that such circumstances had not been substantiated, resulting in Diddy remaining incarcerated at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center since his arrest.
Following the reading of the verdict, when Diddy’s team sought his release from custody, Cassie’s attorney was quick to request that the judge deny the bail application.
Attorney Douglas Wigdor representing Cassie conveyed that “Ms. Ventura believes that Mr. Combs is likely to pose a danger to the victims who testified in this case, including herself, as well as to the community.”
Facing a grim judicial landscape, Combs is eligible for a maximum of 20 years in prison, with ten years per transportation charge. However, given the circumstances, it is plausible that his time in prison may be significantly less than the maximum sentence, especially since the year he has already spent behind bars will be counted as time served.
Diddy’s sentencing is set for Friday, October 3. Prosecutors are advocating for a substantial 11-year sentence, while Diddy’s defense maintains that the appropriate punishment should be limited to no more than 14 months, followed by a period of supervised release.
If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for confidential support. If you or someone you know is a victim of human trafficking, please reach out to the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.
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