Diddy's family and friends appeal for his release before sentencing
What's the story
More than 70 letters from Sean "Diddy" Combs's family, friends, former employees, and business associates have been submitted to a federal judge, urging leniency ahead of his October 3 sentencing. In one letter, Combs's 84-year-old mother, Janice Combs, who attended the trial regularly, described her health struggles and expressed her desire to be reunited with her children.
Legal proceedings
Combs's lawyers request a maximum of 14 months in prison
Combs's lawyers have requested Judge Arun Subramanian to limit his sentence to a maximum of 14 months in prison. This includes the time he has already served since his arrest in September 2024. If granted, it would ensure Combs's immediate release from federal detention in Brooklyn, New York. However, prosecutors have previously argued that Combs should face a minimum of four to five years in prison, or could still face a harsher sentence.
Defense strategy
Lawyers slam probation department's recommendation
Combs's lawyers have slammed the court probation department's recommendation of 70 to 87 months in prison, calling it "infected" with errors and saying it "grossly overstates the seriousness of the offense." In their filing, they emphasized Combs's violence-free record during federal detention and his positive contributions to fellow inmates. They also attributed much of Combs's reform in jail to sobriety, stating he is sober for the first time in 25 years.
Family support
Sons Christian, Justin write letters
Combs's son Christian (King Combs) and stepson Quincy Brown wrote letters to Judge Subramanian, asking him to consider their father's positive personality traits and recent personal growth. His oldest son Justin Combs acknowledged his father's imperfections but praised him as a father. "I humbly ask you...to see my father the way I do, not through headlines, but through the eyes of a son who loves and needs him," he wrote.
Additional support
Other family members and former girlfriend also wrote letters
Combs's former girlfriend, rapper Yung Miami, and Dana Tran, the mother of his youngest daughter, also wrote letters to the judge. They described a family-oriented version of Combs in their letters. His adopted sister Keisha Combs shared that she has seen the positive effects of his sobriety during her visits to him in detention. "The dark veil of addiction...is gone," she wrote.