On the Threshold of Judgment.. The Federal Court Decides the Fate of "Diddy" Combs on Prostitution Charges

A federal judge is set to issue his final ruling soon regarding the request from music producer Sean "Diddy" Combs to dismiss the two prostitution charges against him, ahead of the scheduled sentencing hearing on October 3rd.

Judge Aaron Subramanian listened on Thursday to nearly 90 minutes of arguments discussing the legitimacy of the charges against Combs (55 years old), related to arranging the travel of individuals across state lines for prostitution purposes.

Defense attorney Alexandra Shapiro requested the dismissal of two violations of the "Mann Act," arguing that it has "well-documented racial and sexual origins," and noting that the law represents a "real embarrassment for the United States." This request comes after a jury previously acquitted Combs of the charges of sex trafficking and extortion, which could have meant life imprisonment.

During the session, the judge occasionally expressed skepticism about the defense's arguments, focusing on the point of Combs wearing prison attire in a previous session, "noting the lack of clarification on the need for civilian clothes in the absence of a jury or legal precedent for that."

For her part, Assistant Attorney General Kristi Slavic emphasized the necessity of combating prostitution, asserting that "there is a need to combat prostitution due to the accompanying violence, drugs, and sexually transmitted diseases." The prosecution revealed that Combs "organized and financed hundreds of sexual performances involving multiple individuals over 15 years, including testimonies of violence from workers in these performances."

In response, Shapiro argued that her client was not responsible for financing or arranging the local and international transport of those complex performances. The prosecution stated that the previous acquittal "should remain in place to protect the public interest and prevent prostitution."

In personal scenes inside the courtroom, Combs waved to his supporters and only spoke to greet the judge, before blowing kisses to his family, expressing his love for them. He said he is "getting closer to going home every day" and that he has "big plans for the family."

Defense attorneys pointed to the financial suffering of the Combs family since his arrest, requesting a sentence not exceeding 14 months with the possibility of immediate release for good behavior. In contrast, the prosecution believes that Combs should serve several more years in prison, while indications suggest the judge also leans towards a long prison term, especially after he twice denied the defendant bail.