Photo Credit: Nicolas Richoffer / CC by 4.0
Attorneys for Sean “Diddy” Combs have officially notified a US federal court of their intention to appeal the hip-hop mogul’s prostitution conviction.
On Monday, attorneys for Sean “Diddy” Combs filed a notice of appeal after notifying the court of their intention to appeal their client’s conviction and 50-month prison sentence. Combs was convicted of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution and acquitted on more serious charges of sex trafficking and racketeering.
At Combs’ sentencing, Judge Arun Subramanian said that a substantial sentence was necessary to send a message that abuse of women is “met with real accountability.” In addition to the sentence, Combs was issued a $500,000 fine and five years of probation.
Combs will also face strict conditions upon his supervised release, according to court documents filed after his sentencing. Among these, he must have a drug test taken within 15 days after his release and two periodic tests afterward, as well as attend regular meetings with his probation officer. He must also participate in an outpatient program that includes testing, an outpatient mental health treatment program, and a program for domestic violence.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump has been asked whether he would consider a presidential pardon for Combs, which seems unlikely. Though Trump and Combs used to pal around 20 years ago (and there are photographs to prove it), Combs was outspoken in his concerns when Trump ran for office.
“I was very friendly with him,” said Trump on August 1 when asked about potentially pardoning Combs. “I got along with him great and seemed like a nice guy. I didn’t know him well. But when I ran for office, he was very hostile.”
Trump has issued several controversial pardons during his second term as president, including roughly 1,500 people connected with the violent insurrection attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.
TMZ reported on Monday that Trump was actually considering commuting Combs’ sentence “as soon as this week,” citing a “high-ranking White House official. But representatives for the White House have pushed back, telling NBC News that there is “zero truth to the TMZ report,” which they deemed “fake news.” However, TMZ spokesperson Casey Carver said simply, “We stand by our story.”
