A formal request has been made by attorneys for Sean “Diddy” Combs, urging a federal judge to release the music mogul from jail while he awaits sentencing. The appeal, submitted in a 12-page letter, argues that “exceptional reasons” exist to justify Combs’ release. Conviction was handed down to Combs on July 2 for two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. However, he was acquitted of the more serious charges of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy in what was described as a split verdict.
The letter, addressed to U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian, who presided over the trial, emphasized that the legal provision under which Combs was convicted had never before been used in a similar context. According to the defense, no individual had previously been prosecuted or incarcerated under the Mann Act for consensual adult activity involving a long-term partner.
“There has literally never been a case, like this one, where a person and his girlfriend arranged for adult men to have consensual sexual relations with the adult, long-term girlfriend as part of a demonstrated swingers lifestyle,” the letter stated. “Sean Combs should not be in jail for this conduct.”
A proposed $50 million bail package was included in the filing, under which Combs would reside at his Miami home pending sentencing. Travel would be restricted to the Southern District of Florida and the Southern District of New York for legal appointments, along with the necessary airports to move between the two regions.
Despite the acquittals on the more severe charges, Judge Subramanian had previously declined to grant bail, citing a legal presumption of detention under the transportation statute. Combs has remained in custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York, since his arrest in September 2024, a period exceeding 10 months. While attempts had initially been made by his legal team to accelerate sentencing, those efforts were eventually withdrawn.
