When will Diddy be released? Rapper’s lawyers urge appeals court to free him

PoliticsMusic
9 Apr 2026 • 10:07 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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  • Sean "Diddy" Combs' lawyers are appealing his conviction for prostitution-related charges and his more than four-year prison sentence before a federal appeals court.
  • His legal team argues that Combs' filmed sexual encounters amounted to "amateur pornography" protected by the First Amendment, and that the term "prostitution" should be interpreted narrowly.
  • The lawyers also contend that Combs' sentence was unduly harsh, claiming the trial judge incorrectly based it on conclusions of fraud, coercion, and his role as a criminal activity organiser.
  • Federal prosecutors oppose the appeal, stating that Combs' recordings do not constitute a free speech issue and that his interpretation could extend First Amendment protection to brothels.
  • Combs, who was acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering but convicted under the federal Mann Act, is currently imprisoned and scheduled for release in April 2028.

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