Sean “Diddy” Combs was sentenced on Friday to more than four years in prison following his July conviction on prostitution-related charges.
The 55-year-old hip-hop mogul was found guilty of arranging paid escorts to travel across state lines for drug-fuelled sexual performances involving Combs’ girlfriends.
Combs, who founded Bad Boy Records and is credited with elevating hip-hop in American culture, was acquitted of more serious racketeering and sex trafficking charges, which could have carried a life sentence. He pleaded not guilty and plans to appeal the conviction. The sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian in Manhattan federal court.
During the two-month trial, prosecutors argued Combs coerced two former girlfriends – singer Casandra Ventura and a woman known as Jane – into participating in performances through threats and physical abuse. Surveillance footage showed Combs kicking and dragging Ventura in 2016 after a performance. Jane testified that Combs attacked her last year and pressured her into sexual acts with a male escort.
Combs’ lawyers acknowledged past physical abuse but maintained the women consented to some of the sexual performances. Both women testified that they sometimes participated out of love and a desire to please him.
Combs’ defence argued for a 14-month sentence, noting he taught a six-week business and personal development course for fellow inmates at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center, called “Free Game with Diddy.” Inmates wrote essays on lessons learned from Combs’ life. Lawyers also stressed his acquittal on sex trafficking and racketeering should limit how his abuse played into sentencing.
Prosecutors pushed for a longer term, citing federal guidelines that call for stricter penalties when offences involve threats or bodily harm. They pointed out that others convicted of violent, prostitution-related crimes regularly receive significant prison terms.
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Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited Türkiye on Wednesday as part of a large delegation for talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis oversaw the signing of seven cooperation agreements in Ankara on 11 February 2026, marking a further step in efforts to stabilise and deepen ties between the two NATO allies.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi became embroiled in a shouting match with Democratic lawmakers during a combative House Judiciary Committee hearing on 11 February 2026, after she refused to apologise to Jeffrey Epstein survivors seated in the room.
Russia will continue to adhere to the strategic missile and warhead ceilings set under the now-expired New START agreement, provided the United States does not exceed those thresholds, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told lawmakers on Wednesday.
JD Vance arrived in Armenia on Monday (9 February), becoming the first sitting U.S. Vice President to visit the country, as Yerevan and Washington agreed to cooperate in the civil nuclear sector in a bid to deepen engagement in the South Caucasus.
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Buckingham Palace said it is ready to support any police investigation into allegations that Prince Andrew shared confidential British trade documents with late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as King Charles expressed “profound concern” over the latest revelations.
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Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited Türkiye on Wednesday as part of a large delegation for talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi became embroiled in a shouting match with Democratic lawmakers during a combative House Judiciary Committee hearing on 11 February 2026, after she refused to apologise to Jeffrey Epstein survivors seated in the room.
Russia will continue to adhere to the strategic missile and warhead ceilings set under the now-expired New START agreement, provided the United States does not exceed those thresholds, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told lawmakers on Wednesday.
Day five of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics delivered raw emotion, technical brilliance and striking alpine backdrops as athletes battled for medals across northern Italy. Photographers continue capturing the defining moments of the Games, freezing triumph and celebration in images.
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