He was convicted of flying people across the US for sexual encounters he called “freak-offs”, including his girlfriends and male sex workers
As he sentenced the hip-hop mogul, the judge said the court had seen “massive” amounts of evidence against Combs and a significant sentence was required
Combs earlier told the court his actions were “disgusting, shameful and sick” as he apologised to the victims and his children. Judge imposes $500,000 fine – and tells Cassie and Jane: ‘We heard you’
As well as the 50-month sentence, Judge Arun Subramanian has also given Diddy a fine of $500,000.
Following the sentence, he says he also wants to address the “strong women who came forward to tell their stories – stories of courage”.
The judge says former girlfriends Cassie and “Jane”, who testified under a pseudonym, went through “abuse and trauma we couldn’t imagine”.
Addressing Cassie and “the other brave survivors who came forward”, he says. “We heard you… these horrible acts were made public and Sean Combs will never be able to wash them away.”
He tells the women: “I can only say your families are proud of you and your children will be proud of you… You weren’t just talking to the jury you were talking to the women who feel powerless – you gave them a voice, you stood up to power, it’s not easy.”
The judge says they showed the world that violence “doesn’t have to stay hidden forever”, and thanks them again for their courage. Prosecutors are set to speak first today, followed by the defence and Diddy himself.
Christine Slavik, one of the prosecutors, is now asking to be able to also respond following Diddy’s remarks.
She says the music mogul has “committed serious federal crimes… repeatedly over 15 years”.
Lives have been “shattered” by him, she argues, going on to say that this is not just a case about “freak offs and hotel nights” but a case of “real victims who suffered real harm”.
Diddy’s currency was “control”, she adds, and reiterates the prosecution’s previous calls for the rapper to serve at least 135 months, which would be just over 11 years in prison.Diddy apologises to Cassie and ‘Jane’ – and says actions were ‘disgusting, shameful and sick’
Sean “Diddy” Combs starts by thanking the court for giving him the chance to speak.
He says “one of the hardest things” he has faced since his arrest was “having to be quiet” and not being able to “express how sorry I am for my actions”.
Combs says he wants to “personally apologise” to his former girlfriend, Cassie Ventura – now Cassie Ventura Fine – for “any harm” he caused her “emotionally or physically”.
He says he does not take this lightly.
The music mogul also apologises to “Jane”, a former girlfriend he dated after Cassie, who testified under a pseudonym in court.
He goes on to say he also wants to “personally apologise” to all victims of domestic violence – and highlights the “disgusting” video that showed him attacking Cassie in a hotel in LA in 2016.
This will always be a “heavy burden” that he will forever carry, he says – and describes his actions as “disgusting, shameful and sick”.
Combs says he was “sick from drugs” and “out of control”, that he got “lost in my excess and lost in my ego”.
