Lawyers for hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs have formally asked a federal appeals court in New York to order his immediate release from prison and overturn his conviction on prostitution-related charges.
In court filings submitted late Tuesday, Combs’ legal team argued that serious legal and procedural errors occurred during the trial, which they say unfairly influenced the jury’s decision.
The lawyers maintained that these alleged flaws justify reversing the conviction outright. If the appeals court declines to do so, they requested that it direct the trial judge to substantially reduce Combs’ four-year prison sentence, describing the punishment as unduly harsh.
The appeal represents a critical step in Combs’ ongoing legal battle as he continues to challenge the verdict and sentence imposed by the lower court. The federal appeals court has yet to indicate when it will hear arguments or issue a ruling on the request.