Judge plans speedy ruling on whether charges can be dropped against Sean 'Diddy' Combs

NEW YORK (AP) — A federal judge said Thursday he’ll rule “very shortly” on a final bid by defense lawyers to get him to toss out two prostitution-related convictions that Sean “Diddy” Combs is scheduled to be sentenced for next week.

Judge Arun Subramanian listened to nearly 90 minutes of arguments by lawyers over whether the charges were properly brought against the Grammy-winning hip-hop producer.

Combs, 55, is scheduled to be sentenced on Oct. 3 in Manhattan for his conviction on two counts alleging that he arranged interstate travel for people engaged in prostitution.

Defense attorney Alexandra Shapiro urged the judge to toss out two violations of the Mann Act that resulted in conviction, saying the “infamous law” had “racist and sexist origins” that are “well documented and beyond dispute.” The jury acquitted him of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy, charges that carried the potential penalty of life in prison.

“The whole history of the statute is really, I would submit, an embarrassment to the United States of America,” she said.

Prior to trial, the judge declined to throw out charges and he sounded skeptical at times as Shapiro pressed her arguments that Combs was improperly convicted.

Late Thursday, Subramanian seemed focused on the sentencing going forward when he explained in an order why he forced Combs to wear his prison uniform to the latest hearing.

He said defense lawyers had failed to explain why Combs would need civilian clothing in court when there was no jury present nor what legal precedent exists to allow that.

“The Court will entertain an application relating to the sentencing proceeding, but it needs to provide some explanation along these lines,” he wrote.

During the oral arguments Thursday, Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik said the prosecution against Combs illustrated the necessity of fighting prostitution because of the violence, drugs and sexual diseases that often accompany it.

Prosecutors said Combs paid for and arranged hundreds of drug-fueled sexual marathon performances between male sex workers and his girlfriends, two of whom testified about being beaten and kicked by Combs.

Shapiro argued that Combs cannot be held responsible for financing and helping to arrange the transportation domestically and internationally for elaborate sex performances that he frequently filmed over a 15-year period.

Slavik said the jury verdict should stand because the charges were properly brought and it was in the public interest to prevent prostitution, particularly when it involves the kind of violence and drugs that occurred when Combs was involved.

As he entered the courtroom, a smiling Combs waved to his supporters and touched his heart before taking his seat among several lawyers. He did not speak during the hearing except to greet the judge.

At the end of the hearing, Combs blew kisses to his family, which included his mother, three daughters and three sons.

“Thank you all for coming. I love you all so much,” he said. “Every hour, every day, is me getting closer to going home.”

He also told them: “I've got some big plans for us.”

In a presentence submission this week, defense lawyers said Combs' family has suffered since his arrest, including financially from the loss of business possibilities.

Subramanian has denied bail for the Bad Boy Records founder after he was convicted of the prostitution-related charges in July.

Combs will have been jailed for nearly 13 months when he is sentenced Oct. 3.

His lawyers argued in court papers submitted this week that he should be sentenced to no more than 14 months in prison. With credit for good behavior, that would mean he would be released immediately.

Prosecutors have said they believe he should spend at least several more years behind bars, although they won't submit their sentencing recommendations to the judge until next week.

The judge has signaled that he, too, is leaning toward a substantial amount of prison time, twice refusing to grant bail since the jury returned its verdict, citing Combs' history of violence.

Chance Combs, center, exits Manhattan federal court with D'Lila Combs and Jessie Combs after a hearing for Sean "Diddy" Combs, Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

Christian "King" Combs exits Manhattan federal court after a hearing for Sean "Diddy" Combs, Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

Janice Combs, center, exits Manhattan federal court after a hearing for her son, Sean "Diddy" Combs, Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

The daughters of Sean "Diddy" Combs arrive outside Manhattan federal court for his hearing, Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

Christian "King" Combs, right, son of Sean "Diddy" Combs, arrives outside outside Manhattan federal court for his hearing, Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

Janice Combs, mother of Sean "Diddy" Combs, arrives outside of Manhattan federal court for his hearing, Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

FILE - Sean Combs arrives at the Pre-Grammy Gala And Salute To Industry Icons at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2020, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Mark Von Holden/Invision/AP, File)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A powerful winter storm swept across California on Wednesday, with heavy rain and gusty winds leading to evacuation warnings for mudslides in parts of Southern California, bringing near white-out snow conditions in the mountains and hazardous travel for millions of holiday drivers.

Forecasters said Southern California could see its wettest Christmas in years and warned about flash flooding. Areas scorched by January’s wildfires were under evacuation warnings, and Los Angeles County officials said Tuesday they were going door to door at about 380 especially vulnerable homes, ordering residents to evacuate because of the risk of landslides and debris flows.

The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department also issued an evacuation warning Wednesday morning for the community of Wrightwood, a mountain resort town in the San Gabriel Mountains about 80 miles (130 kilometers) northeast of Los Angeles, due to potential mud and debris flows from the storm.

Debris and mud flow was seen rushing down the road leading into Wrightwood in a social media video posted by county fire officials. Crews were working to evacuate some homes, the post said. County officials didn't immediately return questions about the evacuation.

Areas along the coast, including Malibu, were under flood warnings Wednesday, local officials said. Parts of Santa Barbara and Ventura counties were also watching for potential flooding. Other parts of Southern California were under wind and flood advisories. Further north, much of the Sacramento Valley and the San Francisco Bay Area were under a flood watch and high wind warning.

Early Wednesday morning, the Los Angeles Fire Department rescued a man trapped in a drainage tunnel in northwest LA that led down to a river.

Firefighters were able to get a ladder down through an opening, allowing the man to climb out, the fire department said. No injuries were reported, but the man is being evaluated.

In Monterey along the central coast, more than 5,000 people lost power Tuesday night due to a damaged power pole, according to Pacific Gas and Electric Co.

San Francisco and Los Angeles airports reported some minor flight delays Wednesday morning.

Conditions could worsen as multiple atmospheric rivers move across the state during one of the busiest travel weeks of the year. The storm in Los Angeles was expected to strengthen into Wednesday afternoon before tapering off later in the evening.

James Dangerfield, an 84-year-old Altadena resident, said his family and neighbor helped place sandbags in his backyard earlier this week. His neighborhood was under a flash flood warning as of Wednesday morning, but he wasn't too worried.

The street he lives on is on a hill, so most rain water flows away from them, he said. For now, he and his wife, Stephanie, planned on staying in the house and spending Christmas Eve with their two adult daughters and grandchildren.

“We’re just going to stay put and everybody will have to come to us. We’re not going to go anywhere," he said.

Southern California typically gets half an inch to 1 inch (1.3 to 2.5 centimeters) of rain this time of year, but this week many areas could see between 4 and 8 inches (10 to 20 centimeters), National Weather Service meteorologist Mike Wofford said. It could be even more in the mountains. Gusts could reach 60 to 80 mph (97 to 128 kph) in parts of the central coast.

Forecasters also warned that heavy snow and gusts were expected to create “near white-out conditions” in parts of the Sierra Nevada and make it “nearly impossible” to travel through the mountain passes. As of Wednesday morning, there was also a “considerable” avalanche risk around Lake Tahoe, according to the Sierra Avalanche Center, a nonprofit partnering with the U.S. Forest Service.

The National Weather Service said a winter storm warning would be in effect for the Greater Tahoe Region until Friday morning.

Atmospheric rivers transport moisture from the tropics to northern latitudes in long, narrow bands of water vapor that form over an ocean and flow through the sky.

Officials have taken steps to reduce the risk in and around the burn scars, with Los Angeles County installing K-rails, a type of barrier to help catch sliding debris from burned areas, as well as offering free sandbags to residents.

The storm has already caused damage in Northern California, where flash flooding led to water rescues and at least one death, authorities said.

The state has deployed emergency resources and first responders to several coastal and Southern California counties, and the California National Guard remains on standby.

Associated Press writers Sophie Austin in Sacramento and Jessica Hill in Las Vegas contributed to this report.

Miguel Lopez sweeps water from Marlene's Beachcomber on the Santa Monica pier Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025, in Santa Monica, Calif. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij)

Miguel Lopez sweeps water from Marlene's Beachcomber on the Santa Monica pier Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025, in Santa Monica, Calif. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij)

Miguel Lopez sweeps water from Marlene's Beachcomber on the Santa Monica pier Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025, in Santa Monica, Calif. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij)

Miguel Lopez sweeps water from Marlene's Beachcomber on the Santa Monica pier Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025, in Santa Monica, Calif. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij)

A tourist from China battles the rain on the Santa Monica pier Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025, in Santa Monica, Calif. (AP Photo/Wally Skalij)

People look toward traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge from the Golden Gate Overlook in San Francisco, Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

A pedestrian carries an umbrella while walking on a path at Alamo Square Park, in San Francisco, Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)