Music mogul Sean Combs, known globally as Diddy, has launched a significant new legal challenge against his conviction and prison sentence. His legal team filed documents late Tuesday, directly accusing the trial judge of improperly overstepping his authority and acting as a "thirteenth juror" during the sentencing phase.
The Core of the New Appeal
In the latest court filing, Diddy's lawyers have urged an appellate court to take one of two actions: overturn his conviction entirely and order his immediate release from prison, or significantly reduce his current 50-month sentence. This appeal, led by attorney Alexandra Shapiro, zeroes in on the conduct of the presiding judge, Arun Subramanian.
The defence argues that Judge Subramanian imposed what they call a "draconian" sentence by relying on allegations for which the jury had actually acquitted Diddy. These include serious charges like racketeering and s3x trafficking. According to the appeal, the judge stated during sentencing that he could consider conduct connected to those more violent charges, despite the jury's not-guilty verdicts on those specific counts.
Violation of Constitutional Rights Alleged
Shapiro contends that this judicial approach amounted to a direct violation of Diddy's constitutional rights. The legal team maintains that his sentence should be based solely on the two counts for which he was convicted. These convictions were for violations of the Mann Act, which relates to the transportation of individuals for the purpose of prostitution.
This is not the first appeal in the case, but it is notable for its specific focus on the judge's sentencing behaviour. In earlier appeals, the defence also argued that Diddy did not personally arrange travel or make payments for male s3x workers, and therefore did not violate the Mann Act as federal prosecutors had alleged.
What Happens Next in the Legal Battle
The legal process now moves to the next stage. Federal prosecutors are expected to file their formal response to this new appeal within the next two months. Once both sides have submitted their arguments, the case will be fully considered by the appellate court judges, who will decide whether to uphold, modify, or overturn the lower court's ruling.
The filing, submitted on December 25, 2025, marks a continued and aggressive defence strategy from Combs's camp, challenging not just the facts of the case but the very conduct of the trial's sentencing phase.
