A hearing set for Tuesday afternoon to discuss moving up Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sentencing date ended without any arguments or a new date being chosen.
Originally, defense lawyers and federal prosecutors agreed on September 22 for Combs’ sentencing. But shortly before the remote hearing, both sides sent a letter to Judge Arun Subramanian saying they were fine with his earlier proposed date of October 3.
During the call, the judge’s deputy asked if there was anything else to discuss. Both the defense attorney, Marc Agnifilo, and prosecutor, Christy Slavik, said no. The conference was then adjourned, and the judge said he would respond in writing. A court document later confirmed that Combs’ sentencing is officially set for October 3.
It’s not clear why Combs’ lawyers dropped their push to speed up the sentencing, at least for now.
Earlier, Judge Subramanian had agreed to hear arguments for a quicker sentencing after a split verdict on July 2. The jury found Combs not guilty of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking but guilty on two prostitution-related charges.
Last week, the defense argued there were “exceptional circumstances” that justified an earlier sentencing, pointing to the 2018 death of Combs’ partner, Kim Porter. They said his two daughters, who were in the courtroom, had already lost their mother and needed their father.
Prosecutors, however, wanted the usual process, which includes a pre-sentencing report and an interview with Combs. They said the only exceptional things about him were “his wealth, his violence and his brazenness,” and indicated they would seek a serious prison sentence.
Combs faces up to 20 years in prison on the two prostitution charges, though he might get less since this is his first conviction. Any sentence will count the roughly 10 months he has already served.
