Sean “Diddy” Combs’ attorney Brian Steel delivered an emotional plea in court ahead of the mogul’s sentencing, reportedly fighting back tears as he urged Judge Arun Subramanian to grant his client freedom.
According to veteran reporter Matthew Russell Lee of Inner City Press, Steel said in his closing remarks: “I am honored to practice in this majestic courthouse. I sit here with tears in my eyes, I can’t believe we’re here. Sean has impacted America in such a positive manner.”
He went on to describe Diddy’s difficult upbringing, recalling how his father was killed when Diddy was just three years old, leaving his mother to raise him in Harlem during the 1970s while working three jobs before moving the family to Mount Vernon.
Steel pointed to further trauma in Diddy’s life, including the murder of his best friend in a Los Angeles drive-by, and suggested that his dependency on drugs stemmed from painkillers prescribed after a surgery.
Acknowledging Diddy’s abusive past, Steel said: “On occasion he would hit the woman he loved. He loved Ms. [Cassie] Ventura. I have been with Sean more than my family since I met him. He has taken responsibility. He would have pled guilty to the Mann Act, but they wouldn’t offer that.”
The heartfelt appeal came just before the judge handed down Diddy’s sentence.
Brian Steel closed his emotional defense by telling the court that Diddy has “prayed for healing” throughout his 12 months and 17 days behind bars. He warned that Diddy remains a target in prison, recounting how a guard intercepted an inmate carrying a shank intended for him.
“There are certain people who gain prestige if they hurt him,” Steel said. “We ask Sean to be able to have a 14-month sentence. He has taken full accountability. He’s not using drug addiction as a crutch. He is saying he wants to repair, he will never be a danger. He is a civil rights leader.”
Diddy’s sentencing on Friday (Oct. 3) marked the end of a trial that began in May and concluded in July with a split verdict. He was acquitted of racketeering and sex trafficking but convicted on two counts of transporting individuals for prostitution, violating the Mann Act.
Facing the court himself, Diddy expressed remorse: “One of the hardest things I’ve had to handle has been having to be quiet and not express how sorry I am for my actions. I don’t take that lightly. I would like to apologize to Cassie Ventura and her family.”
He went on to apologize to his children and mother, saying: “I hate myself right now. I’ve been stripped down to nothing. I want to apologize to my seven children… I’m so sorry. You deserve better. To my mother, I feel… you taught me better.”
Diddy was first arrested in Manhattan by Homeland Security officers in September 2024 after being indicted on three felony counts. He pleaded not guilty and has continued to maintain his innocence throughout the trial.
