Diddy files a new appeal accusing the sentencing judge of overstepping and basing his 50-month prison term on charges the jury rejected.
Sean “Diddy” Combs is once again challenging his federal conviction, this time taking direct aim at the judge who sentenced him.
In a new appeal filed late Tuesday night, Diddy’s legal team accused U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian of overstepping his role and acting more like a juror than an impartial judge. The filing argues that Subramanian crossed a constitutional line when he sentenced the music mogul to 50 months in prison earlier this year.
According to the appeal, Diddy’s lawyers are asking the court to overturn his conviction entirely and order his immediate release. If that does not happen, they are seeking a reduced sentence. While Diddy has already filed several appeals, this latest one focuses squarely on the judge’s conduct during sentencing.
Lead appellate attorney Alexandra Shapiro claims Judge Subramanian effectively became a “thirteenth juror” by relying on allegations the jury had already rejected. Diddy was acquitted of the most serious charges he faced, including racketeering and sex trafficking.
However, Shapiro argues that the judge improperly considered behavior tied to those acquitted charges when deciding the length of the sentence.
In the court documents, Shapiro calls the 50-month prison term “draconian” and says it is based on conduct for which Diddy was found not guilty. She points to comments made by Subramanian during sentencing, where he stated he could consider Diddy’s behavior related to the more violent allegations, despite the jury’s acquittal on those counts. The appeal claims this violated Diddy’s constitutional rights.
Diddy was ultimately convicted on two counts of violating the Mann Act, a federal law that prohibits transporting individuals across state lines for the purpose of prostitution. His legal team insists that his sentence should be based only on those two convictions, not on allegations tied to charges he beat at trial.
In earlier appeals, Diddy’s attorneys also argued that he did not personally arrange travel or payment for male prostitutes, and therefore did not violate the Mann Act in the first place.
Federal prosecutors now have several weeks to file their response. After that, the case will move forward to a federal appellate court, which will decide whether Diddy’s conviction or sentence should be altered.
