By Harshit | 3 October 2025 | New York | 5:00 AM EDT
Letter of Apology Ahead of Sentencing
Convicted rap mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs has asked a federal judge for leniency in a handwritten plea submitted ahead of his sentencing on Friday, acknowledging his history of abuse and attributing much of his past conduct to drug addiction.
The four-page letter, addressed to U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian, was filed late Thursday, just hours before Combs is scheduled to appear in a Manhattan courtroom at 10:00 a.m. ET (15:00 GMT).
In the letter, Combs apologized for years of misconduct, including the physical assault of his former partner, singer Cassie Ventura, and admitted that his “selfishness” and “drug abuse” led him to lose control of his life. “I literally lost my mind,” he wrote. “I’m sorry for that and always will be. My domestic violence will always be a heavy burden that I have to forever carry.”
Combs, 55, has been in custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn for 13 months. He argued in his letter that he has been “humbled and broken to my core” during incarceration, claiming sobriety for the first time in 25 years and describing himself as “reborn.”
Facing a Potential 20-Year Sentence
Combs was convicted in July on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, carrying a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison. A jury acquitted him of more severe charges—racketeering and sex trafficking—that could have placed him behind bars for life.
Prosecutors are seeking a minimum of 11 years, describing him as “unrepentant” and unwilling to accept responsibility for decades of abuse. His legal team, by contrast, is pressing for his release later this month, arguing that he has shown significant signs of reform.
In his letter, Combs urged the court to consider his family circumstances. He referenced his seven children and his 84-year-old mother, who recently underwent brain surgery, asking Judge Subramanian to show mercy “not only for my sake, but for the sake of my children.”
Victims Urge Harsh Sentence
Combs’ victims, however, have painted a starkly different picture. Cassie Ventura, who settled a civil case against Combs last year, submitted her own letter to the court, saying she feared for her life if he were freed.
“I am so scared that if he walks free, his first actions will be swift retribution towards me and others who spoke up,” Ventura wrote. “He has no interest in changing or becoming better. He will always be the same cruel, power-hungry, manipulative man that he is.”
Another woman, identified only as “Jane,” testified during the trial about being exploited by Combs. In his letter, the rapper apologized to her directly, admitting he had become “lost in the drugs and the excess.”
Prosecutors cited these accounts in their latest filings, dismissing Combs’ efforts to frame his conduct as the result of toxic relationships. “There is nothing mutual about a relationship where one person holds all the power and the other ends up bloodied and bruised,” they wrote.
Attempts to Show Rehabilitation
In his letter, Combs claimed to have taken on a teaching role inside prison, holding classes for fellow inmates on entrepreneurship and sharing lessons from his music and business career. He framed this as evidence of rehabilitation and his ability to be a positive influence if released.
“The old me died in jail and a new version of me was reborn,” he wrote. “Please make me an example not of punishment, but of what a person can do if afforded a second chance.”
His defense team is expected to supplement the letter with a 15-minute video presentation in court on Friday. Four of his lawyers are also scheduled to speak before Judge Subramanian hands down the sentence.
A Divisive Legal Battle
The case has drawn intense public scrutiny, given Combs’ decades-long influence in the music industry and his past reputation as one of hip-hop’s most powerful figures. His conviction marked a stunning downfall, capping years of allegations about abuse, exploitation, and misuse of power.
Legal experts suggest the judge’s decision will hinge on whether Combs’ expressions of remorse are viewed as genuine, or as a last-minute bid to reduce his prison term.
Regardless of Friday’s outcome, the sentencing will close a pivotal chapter in one of the most high-profile celebrity trials in recent memory.
