Key events
During his address to the court amid Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sentencing, federal judge Arun Subramanian said he considered that Combs may have “inspired and lifted up communities” but that he also abused people.
“The court has to consider all your history here,” the federal judge told Sean “Diddy” Combs, according to Inner City Press. “A history of good works can’t wash away the record in this case. You abused these women.”
The judge was “sitting right here, during the testimony,” when witnesses and victims testified to Combs’ abusive behavior.
After a brief recess, the court is back in session. The judge is now addressing the court.
Sean “Diddy” Combs said in court that he took “full responsibility” for the Mann Act convictions.
Combs was convicted earlier this year of violating the Mann Act, a law that prohibits crossing state lines for prostitution. He was acquitted of other charges.
During his address to the court, Sean “Diddy” Combs said he “knew better.”
“I’m not this larger than life person,” Combs said in court, according to Inner City Press. “I’m just a human being. I’m trying my best. I lost my freedom and the opportunity to raise my children and be there for my mother. I lost all my businesses.”
The Associated Press is reporting that Sean “Diddy” Combs called his own behavior “disgusting, shameful” and “sick.”
Sean “Diddy” Combs apologized to Cassie Ventura, the performer and Combs’ ex-girlfriend. Last year, video surfaced of Combs physically assaulting Ventura.
“I would like to apologize to all the victims of domestic violence. I know that the disgusting video triggered people,” Combs said in his address to the court, according to Inner City Press. “I was sick. Sick from the drugs. I needed help. But I didn’t get the help.”
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs to address the court
Sean “Diddy” Combs is taking the stand at his sentencing hearing to address the court.
On Thursday night, Combs submitted a letter to the federal judge deciding his sentence. In the letter, Combs expressed regret and asked for a lenient sentence. During Combs’ address to the court, he is expected to echo what he wrote in Thursday’s letter.
“I want to apologize and say how sincerely sorry I am for all of the hurt and pain that I have caused others by my conduct,” Combs wrote in his letter. “I humbly ask you for another chance—another chance to be a better father, another chance to be a better son, another chance to be a better leader in my community, and another chance to live a better life.”
The prosecution is now giving its rebuttal to what the defense has argued today.
Christy Slavik once again addressed the court and pleaded the judge not to believe Combs when he says that he is a changed man, reported the New York Times. Slavik said Combs had claimed the same thing after the video of him beating Casandra Ventura in 2016 was released, but he still went on to assault another girlfriend the next month.
We have heard from a total of five of Diddy’s defense attorneys during this hearing, alongside his children and other supporters who have all argued that he should be released.
Combs will give the last word once the prosecution has finished its rebuttal.
Marc Agnifilo, the lead defense attorney in the case, just spoke briefly. He began by acknowledging that the defense is “asking for a lot” with a requested sentence of no more than 14 months, but said that this case has already had “devastating” effects on Combs’ businesses and on his reputation as a whole.
Agnifilo added that multiple doctors have diagnosed Combs with post-traumatic stress disorder, according to the Associated Press. He said they made such findings in 2014, 2017 and 2020.
Defense lawyer Xavier Donaldson is the next to speak, arguing that Combs does not deserve a harsh penalty along the lines of a convicted “pimp” because he did not recruit women to engage in paid sex work, nor did he make any money off their work.
“The government equates Sean Combs with a pimp. I want to be clear Mr Combs is not a pimp,” Donaldson told the court, according to NBC News. “A pimp is in the business of subjugating women, therefore he should not and cannot be considered a pimp.”
Donaldson also took issue with the prosecution’s earlier claim that Combs had preemptively scheduled “speaking engagements” in Miami for next week under the assumption that he would be released, reported the New York Times.
He clarified that Combs would fill his time upon release “not with speaking engagements, but with teaching engagements” for the incarcerated in South Florida.
Here are some of the courtroom sketches that have come through so far from today’s hearing. The drawings depict Combs becoming emotional as his children addressed the court and as his defense video played.
When speaking about Combs’ past, Steel also brought up Combs’ former close friend, Christopher Wallace (known as the rapper Biggie Smalls and the Notorious B.I.G) and how his 1997 murder impacted Combs.
He also spoke about his client’s addiction to painkillers following a medical procedure in 2000. After that, Combs was high “every single day,” Steel said, according to the Associated Press.
“He was medicating because his body was hurt and his emotions were hurt,” he added. “But he never stopped working. And all of that, the drug addiction and the trauma — untreated, your honor — caused him to hit, on occasion… the woman he loved.”
Steel said Combs remains haunted by his violent outbursts, remembering “every strike” he’s inflicted.
Combs “has punished himself more than anyone will be able to punish him and it will stay with him for the rest of his days,” Steel argued. “Mr. Combs does not need any additional time in custody. That is not the way we treat” drug addiction and trauma today, he said.
