What we're covering here
• In court today: Sean “Diddy” Combs is in court for a sentencing hearing. A jury convicted the disgraced music mogul on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution but cleared him of more serious sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy charges.
• Defense’s strategy: Combs’ legal team released a documentary-style video at the eleventh hour that includes a montage of clips showing Combs’ charity work and family. The video and a letter from Combs submitted ahead of the sentencing stand in stark contrast to continuous efforts by his defense, who have repeatedly stated Combs is not guilty and was targeted unfairly by the government. Combs is expected to speak in court, as well.
• Possible sentence: Prosecutors say Combs should face more than 11 years in prison, but the defense has argued he should get no more than 14 months in prison, including his time already served.
Judge says he doesn't see a reason to deviate from advisory sentencing range
Judge Arun Subramanian said the advisory sentencing range is 70 to 87 months — or between just under six years to just over seven — in prison, and he said he doesn’t see a reason to deviate from that range.
The judge also said guidelines allow the court to impose a fine ranging from $25,000 to $250,000.
Prosecutors are now giving their statement, and the defense will have a chance to present afterward.
Combs' "respect for the law is just lip service," prosecutor says
Prosecutor Christy Slavik said that “the defendant doesn’t appreciate or understand the gravity of his criminal conduct.”
She said even at his sentencing, Sean “Diddy” Combs doesn’t “fully grapple with how his actions got him here. His respect for the law is just lip service.”
Prosecutor pushes against report's sentencing recommendation, and reiterates government wants 11 years
Prosecutor Christy Slavik has reiterated that the government is seeking a sentence of at least 135 months — slightly more than 11 years – for Sean “Diddy” Combs, and not a lower sentencing range suggested by the probation department in the pre-sentencing report.
“The government is not seeking 135 months simply hoping that the court will split the baby to get the 60 months recommended by probation — that is not the case at all,” she said.
Slavik said the recommended sentencing range in the pre-sentencing report does not adequately account for the separate harms done to Cassie and Jane.
Slavik referenced the defense’s suggestion that the conviction is a technical violation and that Combs’ life is about “sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll.”
This is a gross mischaracterization of the conduct, Slavik said. “The offenses of the conviction are serious federal crimes,” Slavik said.
Prosecutor: "Today is about accountability and justice"
Prosecutor Christy Slavik is now giving a statement on behalf of the government.
“Today is about accountability and justice. Accountability for the defendant, who committed serious federal crimes repeatedly over the course of 15 years. And justice for the public, including for the victims whose lives have been shattered by the defendant’s acts of abuse and exploitation,” Slavik said.
The court has adopted the pre-sentencing report. Here's what the judge is looking at now
The court had adopted the pre-sentencing report and its factual findings.
Judge Arun Subramanian will now review the calculation of the sentencing guidelines range.
Judge: "Combs has challenged his factual guilt full-throatedly"
Sean “Diddy” Combs’ defense team objected to the pre-sentencing report not giving him credit for acceptance of responsibility.
Judge Arun Subramanian said that Combs has challenged his factual guilt as to his conviction, and that while he “has expressed remorse for some things,” he hasn’t expressed remorse as to what he’s been convicted of, which is transporting people to engage in prostitution.
Catch up on what’s happened so far in court since the sentencing hearing began
If you’re just joining us, there have been a few key developments in the Manhattan courthouse where the sentencing hearing of hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs is underway.
• Witness won’t be speaking: A former employee of the rapper who testified during the trial under the pseudonym Mia was scheduled to speak today, but she will no longer be speaking. The prosecution said she changed her mind in part because of the defense letter, which prosecutor Christy Slavik called “bullying.” She had testified that she was assaulted by Combs.
• Speakers in favor of Combs: Two or three of the music mogul’s children wish to speak on behalf of their father. The defense also offered doctors who evaluated Combs and someone regarding a reentry program. All individuals have already submitted letters to the judge, the defense said. Prosecutor Slavik pointed that the defense previously objecting to Mia’s testimony, but is now trying to have several character witnesses speak for Combs.
• What the judge has said: The judge said he agreed that the tone of the defense letter was inappropriate. He allowed the children to speak, but will rule on other suggested speakers later.
Pre-sentencing report's characterization of Ventura and "Jane" as victims is OK, judge rules
While reviewing the pre-sentencing report, Judge Arun Subramanian has overruled the defense’s objections to the report’s characterization of Casandra Ventura, “Jane” and the paid male escorts as victims.
The judge said evidence in the trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs established that they were transported for the purpose of engaging in a commercial sex act.
Judge is reviewing the presentencing report
Judge Arun Subramanian is now reviewing the presentencing report and both parties’ objections to it.
The judge also said he’s found that the court may consider acquitted conduct among other factors when sentencing Sean “Diddy” Combs. The defense has opposed this idea when arguing for a lenient sentence for Combs.
Prosecutor: "It appears the defense is trying to drown out the voices of victims"
Prosecutor Christy Slavik said there was an “irony” in the defense previously objecting to “Mia” speaking at the hearing but now trying to have several character witnesses speak.
Judge Arun Subramanian said he would allow Sean “Diddy” Combs’ children, and he would think about some of the other people defense lawyers proposed.
Here's who else the defense says wants to speak on behalf of Combs
Defense attorney Brian Steel says in addition to Sean “Diddy” Combs making a statement, two or three of Combs’ children are among those who wish to speak on his behalf.
Steel said that if the judge wants to hear from doctors who evaluated Combs, they’re available in the courthouse.
The defense also wishes to present someone regarding a reentry program.
Prosecutor Christy Slavik points out that the individuals they wish to put forward all submitted letters and are featured on Combs’ video and says the judge can decline to allow them to speak.
No victims will speak in court today
No victims will speak at the hearing today, including “Mia,” who has changed her mind, prosecutor Christy Slavik said. Mia — who testified during the trial under a pseudonym — was previously expected to address the court.
Slavik said Mia’s change of heart was influenced in part by the defense letter, which Slavik called “bullying.”
“The tone of the defense’s letter was inappropriate, and so I agree with Ms. Slavik on that point,” Judge Arun Subramanian told defense attorney Brian Steel. “And that should not be done again.”
Judge says he will review probation office's report and sentencing guidelines
Judge Arun Subramanian said he’ll first review the probation office’s report and sentencing guidelines, then hear from both parties and Sean “Diddy” Combs before issuing Combs’ sentence.
He thanked them for the letters submitted, saying he read them closely.
Combs' sentencing hearing has begun
Judge Arun Subramanian is on the bench, and Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sentencing hearing is now underway.
Subramanian said, “Good morning” to Combs, who responded, “Good morning, judge.”
Today's hearing is expected to be lengthy. Here's why that's unusual, according to CNN analyst
With the prosecution and defense ready with hours-long presentations for today’s sentencing hearing, this is expected to go long — possibly even into Monday, “which is unusual for a sentencing,” CNN legal analyst Elie Honig says.
“Most sentencings in that federal courthouse, where I did a bunch of them myself, take an hour or two, maybe three,” Honig explains.
But Judge Arun Subramanian will ultimately decide how much time he will give to each side.
“Now, the judge doesn’t necessarily have to give them every minute that they ask for. If one side says they need six hours, the judge may say, ‘that’s too much. You have to do it in two hours,’” Honig added.
Remember: The prosecution team is expected to present first, so if the judge allows long presentations, it could be hours before Combs speaks.
Combs waves to supporters in the courtroom
After he entered the courtroom, Sean “Diddy” Combs hugged some of his attorneys and turned to wave to his supporters gathered in court today.
He is seated between defense attorneys Alexandra Shapiro and Brian Steel.
Combs is in the courtroom
Sean “Diddy” Combs just entered the courtroom ahead of his sentencing hearing.
Cassie Ventura wrote a letter to the judge ahead of the sentencing
Sean “Diddy” Combs’ former girlfriend Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, who testified in court during the music mogul’s trial, submitted a letter to the judge just days before today’s proceedings.
Another witness, Jane, identified as “Victim-2” in Combs’ indictment, did not submit a letter weighing in on Combs’ possible punishment.
Combs’ lawyers submitted a letter from another former girlfriend who was identified as “Victim-3” in the case. Prosecutors intended to call her to testify at the trial but just days before it began, they indicated to the judge they had been unable to reach her. The woman, Virginia Huynh, wrote to the judge that she wasn’t a victim of sex trafficking and felt pressured by prosecutors to feel like a victim. That letter was submitted by Combs’ legal team along with dozens of others advocating for Combs.
Combs' conviction: Here's what those two counts alleged
While the jury acquitted Sean “Diddy” Combs of the most serious charges during his trial earlier this year, it found him guilty of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, each carrying a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
A closer look at his conviction: The two transportation charges accused Combs of transporting his then-girlfriends, Cassie Ventura and “Jane,” as well as male escorts, across state lines for the purposes of prostitution. One charge related to Ventura, whom Combs dated from around 2007 to 2018. The other involved “Jane,” who testified under a pseudonym and dated Combs from 2021 to 2024.
Jane testified about accompanying Combs to what she called “hotel nights,” where she engaged in sexual encounters with a male “entertainer,” often in a hotel room with Combs present. Ventura testified about participating in similar encounters, which Combs referred to as “Freak Offs.”
Jane testified she and Combs had “hotel nights” between May 2021 and October 2023 in a variety of locales, including Los Angeles, New York, Miami and Turks and Caicos. Similarly, Ventura said “Freak Offs” took place in some of those locations as well as other cities, such as Atlanta and Las Vegas.
Ventura testified some escorts participated in “Freak Offs” in multiple states. They were paid between $1,500 and $6,000 afterwards in cash provided by Combs, she said. Her testimony was bolstered by various records presented in court, including flight records, American Express charges and hotel invoices.
The jury also watched video footage of Ventura and Jane engaging in sexual acts with male escorts. The videos line up with the dates of many flight records and hotel invoices, the prosecution said. The defense argued there wasn’t sufficient evidence that the escorts and entertainers were paid for prostitution as opposed to for their time.
A key witness will address the court, but many others won't
Judge Arun Subramanian has granted a request from a former employee of Sean “Diddy” Combs to speak at his sentencing.
The employee, who testified under the pseudonym Mia, worked for Combs from 2009 to 2017, and alleged that she was assaulted by the music mogul. Her allegations were connected to a racketeering conspiracy charge that a jury acquitted Combs of in its July verdict.
But we won’t hear from Combs’ former girlfriends Casandra Ventura and a woman who testified under the pseudonym Jane.
If you need a handy list, you can read our recap the key witnesses in Combs’ trial.
