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 that he was “broken to my core” and even questioning his will to live.
In a letter to Judge Arun Subramanian, Combs, 55, reflected on the transformation he has undergone after spending the past year in jail, free from drugs and alcohol. He detailed his decline leading up to his arrest in September 2024, which culminated in two prostitution-related convictions. The sentencing hearing is set for Friday morning.
“Over the past year, I have felt a plethora of emotions, including moments when I wanted to give up,” Combs wrote. “There were days I thought I might be better off dead. The old me died in jail, and a new version of me was reborn. Prison either changes you or kills you — I choose to live.”
A jury had previously acquitted Combs of charges related to sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy, leaving him facing a maximum of 10 years for the prostitution-related counts. His defense argues that his incarceration should suffice as punishment, while prosecutors seek a minimum of 11 years in prison for his actions.
In his letter, Combs expressed his deep regrets for the pain he has inflicted on others, particularly highlighting his physical assault on his former girlfriend, Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, stating, “I was dead wrong for putting my hands on the woman that I loved.” He also addressed another victim, under a pseudonym, who provided testimony during his trial. Combs acknowledged the remorse he feels daily for his actions, describing it as a deep wound that leaves an ugly scar.
Combs has been participating in various activities during his incarceration to promote personal growth, including undertaking a six-week educational program for other inmates and engaging in therapy to address his past behaviors. He mentioned that he is now sober for the first time in 25 years.
As he stands before Judge Subramanian, Combs implores for compassion not just for himself, but for his family, including his seven children and his elderly mother, for whom he had been a primary caregiver. He described the emotional toll of missing significant familial milestones during his imprisonment.
He also shared a harrowing account of the inhumane conditions in his detention center, affecting both his physical and mental health. Combs concluded his letter by expressing a commitment to change, asking the judge for a second chance to exemplify the potential for rehabilitation.
“If you allow me to go home to my family, I promise I will not let you down and I will make you proud,” he wrote.
