Attorneys for Sean “Diddy” Combs have filed an expedited appeal with the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, seeking to overturn his conviction on two prostitution-related charges or, at minimum, secure a significant reduction in his 50-month prison sentence.
Lead attorney Alexandra Shapiro argued in the December 26, 2025, filing that the current sentence is unlawful and represents a perversion of justice. The defense maintains that the conduct leading to the conviction was not criminal in nature and that the presiding judge improperly applied sentencing guidelines when determining the punishment.
The appeal primarily challenges the application of the Mann Act, with the defense asserting that the statute was incorrectly used to prosecute the sexual encounters described during the trial. Shapiro further alleges that U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian acted as a thirteenth juror by factoring in allegations of racketeering and sex trafficking charges for which the jury had actually acquitted Combs.
The filing characterizes the four-year sentence as draconian, claiming the court ignored recommendations for a shorter sentence and improperly focused on conduct that was not proven at trial.
While Combs expressed remorse during his September sentencing by describing his past behavior as disgusting and sick, his legal team is now focused on challenging the legality of his incarceration. The Southern District of New York has not commented on the appeal, though prosecutors originally sought a much longer sentence of 11 years.
Aside from this criminal battle, Combs continues to face massive legal pressure from dozens of pending civil lawsuits involving allegations of sexual assault, drugging, and exploitation.