Diddy Speaks Out in Court as Defense Argues to Overturn Conviction

The judge in Sean “Diddy” Combs criminal case is considering a request by the music mogul’s legal team to overturn his conviction on prostitution-related charges or grant him a new trial.

The mogul returned to Manhattan federal court on Thursday, Sept. 25, as his attorneys argued for Judge Arun Subramanian to vacate the mogul’s conviction, ahead of his Oct. 3 sentencing. The two prostitution counts carry a maximum sentence of ten years each.

Judge Subramanian said he would hand down a decision “very shortly.”

Sketches from the courtroom showed Combs wore a jail-issued tan top over a gray T-shirt to the hearing. He had on glasses and appeared older, with fully-gray hair and a gray beard.

Related: Yung Miami Calls Diddy ‘Loving and Supportive’ in Letter to Judge

Diddy gives a heartfelt speech to his family after his acquittal hearing… https://t.co/mprEOFBjYg pic.twitter.com/a9D8Jq3rVu

— TMZ (@TMZ) September 25, 2025

A Manhattan jury acquitted the Bad Boy Records founder of racketeering and sex trafficking on July 2, but found him guilty on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution involving his ex-girlfriends Cassie Ventura and a woman using the pseudonym “Jane Doe.”

The defense argued Thursday that Combs’ conviction should be dismissed because the Mann Act, which prohibits transporting a person across state lines for the purpose of prostitution, should “only be applied to pimping.”

“Prostitution does not include commercial voyeurism,” said defense attorney Alexandra Shapiro, according to ABC News.

Shapiro argued Combs was only “a consumer of amateur porn,” and did not benefit financially from “freak off” sex sessions between his girlfriends and male escorts.

“Adults have a right to consume pornography,” Shapiro told the court.

Prosecutors countered the mogul’s conviction should be upheld because he is violent, and keeping him behind bars would discourage additional violence.

“Ms. Ventura was getting punched in the face,” prosecutor Christy Slavik said. “Regulating prostitution is important because it can include discouraging violence against women.”

Diddy’s mother, Janice Combs, and his adult children were in the courtroom as well. The mogul was granted permission to speak to his family at the end of the hearing.

“I appreciate y’all. I love y’all so much,” he said. The rapper and producer tried to reassure his family.

“Every day, every hour I’m closer to coming home,” he said. “Don’t worry about nothing. No matter what it is. I’m going to deal with whatever it is.”

TMZ described his comments as “heartfelt.”

Dozens of Combs’ friends, former colleagues, and relatives have sent character letters to the court ahead of the mogul’s sentencing.

Diddy’s former girlfriend, rapper Yung Miami, called him “a good man” in her letter. She said he is “loving, genuine, supportive, and always encouraging.”

The mogul’s 84-year-old mother admitted her son “has made some terrible mistakes,” but urged the court to sentence him to time served.

“On December 21, I will be 85 years old,” she wrote. “This separation for the past year while Sean has been incarcerated has been excruciatingly difficult and painful for me and his children. I would like to spend the last few years of my life with my son, Sean.”

The judge also has to weigh letters sent in by the mogul’s alleged victims. On the day of the verdict, Cassie’s attorney Douglas Wigdor wrote a letter to the court, saying Combs poses a threat to his alleged victims.

“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,” Wigdor wrote.

Diddy has been jailed at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, since he was arrested at a New York City hotel in September 2024.