Lawyers for Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs urge judge to deliver lesser sentence over prostitution charges, point to “serious substance abuse issues”

Lawyers for Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs have urged a New York federal judge to sentence him to no more than 14 months in prison for his conviction on two prostitution-related charges.

Back in July, the disgraced music mogul was found guilty on two counts of transportation for engaging in prostitution, but was acquitted of racketeering and sex trafficking and pleaded not guilty to all five charges. He faces a statutory maximum of 20 years in prison.

On Monday (September 22), his lawyers made their arguments in a written submission to Judge Arun Subramanian – who has already rejected a proposed $50 million bail package – and implored Judge Subramanian to impose a lesser sentence, followed by supervised release with mandatory drug treatment, therapy, and group counselling.

Combs’ team argued that the “profound form of trauma” he had suffered in childhood after his father’s death set the stage for later substance abuse issues that emerged during his admittedly violent relationships with the two ex-partners involved in his convictions.

“For decades, Mr Combs struggled with serious substance abuse issues, anger and anxiety, and other flaws that he did not properly or professionally address until his incarceration last year,” the filing obtained by Rolling Stone read.

“Like every addict, his behaviour while on painkillers was erratic and unpredictable, and often the reason behind any assaults discussed at the trial.”

They portrayed the Bad Boy Records founder as a changed man, and pointed to drug use as the main driver behind his violent outbursts.

“Without minimizing Mr Combs’s conduct, this is in many ways a ‘sex, drugs, and rock n’ roll’ story,” they said (via ABC News). “Mr Combs had severe substance abuse problems throughout the entirety of the offense conduct and participated in a high-octane celebrity lifestyle.”

Elsewhere in their submission, Combs’ lawyers argued that the Manhattan jury had already sent a significant message to the judge by exonerating him of the most serious charges.

“Put simply, the jury has spoken. Its verdict represents an ‘affirmative indication of innocence,’” lawyers said. “He has served over a year in one of the most notorious jails in America – yet has made the most of that punishment.

“It is time for Mr. Combs to go home to his family, so he can continue his treatment and try to make the most of the next chapter of his extraordinary life.”

Prosecutors, who will submit their recommendations prior to the October 3 sentencing, have already said they’ll urge Combs stay imprisoned substantially longer than the four to five years they originally thought.

Defense lawyers, though, wrote in their submission Monday that prosecutors “have lost all perspective”.

“Mr Combs’s career and reputation have been destroyed,” they wrote. “His life outside of jail has been systematically dismantled.”

Elsewhere, Combs’s attorney Marc Agnifilo has disputed his legal teammates’ claims that they’ve reached out to Donald Trump‘s administration for a potential pardon.

It comes after a member of Combs’ legal team had confirmed they had reached out to the White House to ask President Trump to grant Diddy a pardon.

Trump has speculated openly about a potential pardon. Back in June, he said that he would look into a potential pardon for Combs, and that he would “certainly look at the facts”. Last week, he weighed in again, calling Combs “half-innocent” and saying it’s “more likely a no” that he would be pardoned.

As noted by Billboard, he has also issued pardons or commutations for a number of rappers including NBA YoungBoy, Death Row Records co-founder Michael “Harry-O” Harris, and in his first term, Lil Wayne and Kodak Black.

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