After their shopper acquired a sentence 4 occasions so long as they requested, Sean “Diddy” Combs’ legal professionals are arguing the decide is punishing the rap mogul for crimes he’s harmless of.
In unique interviews with two key members of Combs’ protection staff, his legal professionals instructed ABC Information on Friday that they’re contemplating interesting the case and argued that Combs is being unjustly punished.
“The jury made it very clear of their verdict that they acquitted him of the intercourse trafficking and the RICO counts,” mentioned lead lawyer Teny Geragos. “Not responsible means not responsible.”
Combs was sentenced to over 4 years in jail for his conviction on two prostitution-related offenses. He’ll get credit score for the 12 months he is already served, in addition to be fined $500,000.
“Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs says sorry to his household throughout his sentencing listening to after being convicted of transporting prostitutes for drug-fueled sexual performances, in New York , Oct. 3, 2025, on this courtroom sketch.
Jane Rosenberg/Reuters
Geragos reiterated that Combs is a “modified man” and rebuked the declare by prosecutors that the rap mogul is making an attempt to skirt accountability for his actions.
“I can say, from the underside of my coronary heart, with all of the hours that I spent with him preparing for trial, that he’s a modified man,” mentioned Geragos.
Combs’ legal professionals have mentioned that their enchantment will middle on the argument that the decide unfairly thought-about conduct for which Combs was acquitted. By discovering Combs not responsible of intercourse trafficking, the legal professionals mentioned, the jury concluded that Combs didn’t use drive or coercion on his victims.
“That was completely inconsistent with the jury verdict. The Decide acted as a thirteenth juror,” mentioned lawyer Alexandra Shapiro, who will lead Combs’ enchantment. “The sentence was pushed by the conduct the jury rejected. The jury acquitted Mr. Combs of any coercion.”
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs listens as Decide Arun Subramanian pronounces the sentence throughout Combs’ sentencing listening to, after he was convicted of transporting prostitutes for drug-fueled sexual performances, in New York, Oct. 3, 2025, on this courtroom sketch.
Jane Rosenberg/Reuters
When asserting Combs’ sentence, Decide Arun Subramanian emphasised the repeated nature of Combs’ crimes and violence in the direction of his former companions.
“The courtroom isn’t assured that if launched, these crimes wouldn’t be dedicated once more,” the decide mentioned. Subramanian mentioned his sentence ought to hopefully ship a message to different survivors of home abuse that “violence in opposition to ladies is met with actual accountability.”
When requested by ABC Information’ Aaron Katersky, Shapiro acknowledged a few of the proof within the trial — together with a video of Combs’ assaulting Ventura in a California resort — was indefensible and contributed to the decision and prolonged sentence.
“The video was the worst factor within the case,” she mentioned, arguing that Combs has owned as much as his violent previous.
“We settle for the home violence. We take possession of it, and we settle for accountability for it. We mentioned that from day one. I mentioned that over and time and again myself within the trial, however home violence isn’t what he was convicted of,” added Geragos.
Shapiro argued that the prolonged sentence runs counter to the purpose of rehabilitation for Combs, who vowed throughout his sentencing to guide a brand new life if given a second probability.
“What’s the level of extra incarceration for an individual like Mr. Combs? He actually ought to be on a path to rehabilitation. He ought to be capable of get therapy. He ought to be capable of begin giving again in a manner that I believe he’s uniquely positioned to do, and it appears simply mindless to maintain him in jail for years extra,” she mentioned.
Between his yr in jail, the injury to his fame, skilled hurt, and a flood of civil lawsuits, Shapiro argued that Combs has been punished sufficient for his crimes.
“That message has been despatched in spades. Mr. Combs’ life has been destroyed by all of this, and extra incarceration is not wanted to ship a message in opposition to home violence,” she mentioned.
