Judge Rejects Diddy's Bid to Overturn Prostitution Convictions

On September 30, 2025, a federal judge denied Sean "Diddy" Combs' request to overturn his prostitution convictions. Combs had been found guilty earlier this year of transporting his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura and other women across state lines for the purposes of prostitution.

In his ruling, Judge Arun Subramanian rejected Combs' various arguments for a new trial, including his claim that the "freak-off" sex parties at the heart of the case were protected by the First Amendment as movie shoots. The judge firmly stated that "illegal activity can't be laundered into constitutionally protected activity just by the desire to watch it."

The judge also dismissed Combs' lawyers' argument that he merely hired men for consensual sex with his girlfriend, saying that would "narrow prostitution almost out of existence." With this decision, the path is now clear for Combs' sentencing, which is scheduled for this Friday, October 3, 2025.

Prosecutors are seeking an 11-year prison sentence for Combs, while his defense attorneys argue he should receive just 14 months - a term that would see him released almost immediately on time served. The ruling also sets the stage for Combs' expected appeal of the convictions.