DIDDY'S TRIAL JUDGE SEEMS TO BE WEIGHING VACATING RAPPER’S TWO CONVICTIONS. (PHOTO).

 Diddy's trial judge seems to be weighing vacating rapper’s two convictions

The federal judge presiding over Sean “Diddy” Combs’ upcoming sentencing on the two lesser counts from his split verdict racketeering and sex trafficking trial is now considering the defense’s argument that his convictions should be vacated if a new trial is required.

On Thursday, just over a week before Combs, 55, is scheduled to be sentenced for two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, Judge Arun Subramanian told the court he would issue a decision “very shortly” on the defense’s argument regarding the Mann Act and its application to Combs’ case. If no decision is issued, Subramanian noted he would reconvene the court next Friday. No announcement was made over the weekend.

Combs’ legal team argued for a narrow interpretation of prostitution under the Mann Act, which holds that only those who engage in sexual acts or financially benefit from prostitution are criminally liable. They contend that Combs did not personally profit from the “freak-off” parties he organized, which involved male sex workers performing sexual acts with two of his long-term girlfriends while he observed. Attorneys emphasize that Combs did not participate in the sexual acts himself.

During the trial, evidence showed Combs paid for the sex workers and funded the events, but the defense maintains that simply transporting individuals for these events does not constitute a violation under the Mann Act. They further argued that because Combs directed the parties’ lighting, music, and wardrobe, enforcing the Mann Act could infringe upon his First Amendment rights. Prosecutors countered that the law focuses on transportation for prostitution, not filming, and stressed that Combs’ role in hiring and paying the workers remains central.

In recent sentencing filings, Combs’ lawyers recommended a maximum of 14 months for the two counts, which could allow him to be released in November, considering his time in a Brooklyn federal facility since September 2024. Prosecutors, however, are expected to push for a longer sentence, likely at least four years. Each count carries a potential 10-year sentence, meaning Combs could face up to 20 years when he appears in federal court on Oct. 3.