26 December,2025 01:46 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Sean Diddy Combs
Sean Diddy Combs has filed a fresh legal plea seeking his immediate release from jail, continuing his fight against the federal sentence he is currently serving. The music mogul and entrepreneur approached the appeals court with a detailed filing, arguing that his conviction and sentencing were legally flawed and unjust.
Combs is presently incarcerated following his conviction on two counts related to transportation for prostitution. While a jury cleared him of more serious charges, including racketeering and s'x trafficking, the court still handed him a prison sentence of over four years. His legal team maintains that this punishment is disproportionate to the offenses for which he was found guilty.
In the newly submitted plea, Combs' lawyers claim the sentencing judge relied on evidence tied to charges on which he was acquitted. They argue this violated fundamental legal principles, stating that a judge cannot impose punishment based on allegations a jury has already rejected. According to the filing, the court effectively reinterpreted the verdict, resulting in a sentence far harsher than what federal guidelines typically recommend for similar convictions.
The appeal further states that Combs should either be released immediately, have his conviction overturned, or be resentenced without consideration of acquitted conduct. His attorneys emphasized that the law requires sentencing to reflect only proven crimes, not disputed or dismissed allegations.
During the trial, prosecutors presented testimony from former partners describing troubling behavior, which the defense now argues unfairly influenced the final sentence. While those accounts were part of the broader case, Combs' team insists they should not have played a role in determining his punishment after acquittals on key charges.
Combs' current projected release date is in 2028, but the latest filing signals an aggressive attempt to shorten or eliminate his prison term. The appeals court has not yet scheduled a hearing on the matter.
The case continues to attract significant public attention, both because of Combs' celebrity status and the broader legal debate surrounding judicial discretion and sentencing standards. As the appeal process unfolds, the court's decision could have lasting implications for how federal judges consider acquitted conduct during sentencing in high-profile cases.
