NEW YORK (AP) — On the eve of his sentencing, Sean “Diddy” Combs told a federal judge Thursday that he is a new man after realizing he was “broken to my core” and wondered if he was better off dead at times.
Combs, 55, wrote to Judge Arun Subramanian that with a mind clear of drugs and alcohol after a year in jail, he has come to understand how much he had fallen before his September 2024 arrest for prostitution-related counts. His hearing is scheduled for Friday morning.
“Over the past year, there have been so many times I wanted to give up. There have been some days I thought I would be better off dead. The old me died in jail, and a new version of me was reborn,” Combs stated.
A jury previously acquitted Combs of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy charges, allowing him to avoid a life sentence. The prostitution-related counts he faces carry a maximum penalty of 10 years each.
Combs' lawyers argue he should be freed this month, as they believe a year behind bars has been sufficient punishment, while prosecutors are seeking a 11-year sentence.
He expressed deep remorse for his past actions and stated he takes full responsibility, acknowledging his mistakes and the pain caused to others. Combs apologized for a violent incident involving his former girlfriend, Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, acknowledging the trauma caused by his actions.
In his letter, he elaborated on the struggles he faced and the transformative experiences during incarceration, focusing on reading, writing, working out, and even teaching other inmates. He emphasized his commitment to sobriety, stating he is clean for the first time in 25 years.
Combs also asked the court for mercy based on the impact on his family, stressing his role as a caregiver for his elderly mother and missing key milestones of his children’s lives during his incarceration. He described conditions in jail as “inhumane,” marking the experience as a spiritual reset in his life.
As he faces his sentencing, Combs appeals for a second chance, hoping that the judge can see the person he aspires to become rather than the mistakes he's made, promising to uphold his commitments should he be granted freedom.
