Diddy Files Emergency Appeal Calling Judge the "Thirteenth Juror"

Sean Diddy Combs is not backing down from his legal battles. The music mogul filed an emergency appeal on December 23rd requesting immediate release from federal prison and calling out the judge who sentenced him. In an 84 page filing, Diddy's legal team accused U.S. District Court Judge Arun Subramanian of acting as a thirteenth juror by imposing a harsh 50 month prison sentence based on conduct the jury had already rejected. The appeal argues that while Diddy was acquitted of racketeering and sex trafficking charges, the judge still considered those allegations when determining his punishment for two transportation for prostitution convictions. Lead appellate attorney Alexandra Shapiro called the sentence draconian and explained that defendants in similar cases typically receive less than 15 months even when coercion is involved which wasn't proven in Diddy's case. The filing claims the judge violated Diddy's constitutional rights by essentially overruling the jury's verdict. Diddy was convicted in July 2025 on two Mann Act counts involving transporting people across state lines for prostitution but was cleared of the more serious charges. He's currently serving his time at Federal Correctional Institution Fort Dix in New Jersey with a projected release date in May 2028. The appeal also challenges the conviction itself arguing that Diddy's First Amendment rights were violated since he was simply watching and recording consensual encounters. The judge had previously rejected this argument stating illegal activity can't become constitutionally protected just because someone wants to watch it. Prosecutors now have several weeks to respond before a federal appellate court decides whether to grant Diddy relief. This marks Diddy's most aggressive legal push yet with his team clearly believing the judge overstepped his authority. The entertainment world is watching closely as this case could set important precedents about how judges use acquitted conduct during sentencing. For now Diddy remains behind bars continuing to maintain his innocence while his legal team fights for his freedom.