Judge weighing whether to overturn Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ convictions

LOWER MANHATTAN (WABC) — Music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs returned to a Lower Manhattan courtroom Thursday morning for the first time since his high-stakes trial wrapped up with a split verdict.

Combs deserves to have his conviction overturned because the law, transportation for the purposes of prostitution, should “only be applied to pimping” and Combs “was only an alleged consumer,” a defense attorney argued Thursday.

“Prostitution does not include commercial voyeurism,” the lawyer, Alexandra Shapiro said, insisting the law requires Combs to have had a financial motive for transporting male escorts, which the trial did not establish.

Combs, in a tan smock over a grey tee shirt, appeared in a Manhattan federal courtroom for the first time since his acquittal on sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy charges.

He is aiming to overturn his conviction on the lesser prostitution-related charges ahead of sentencing October 3.

Combs transported Cassie Ventura, a woman who testified under the pseudonym “Jane” and multiple male escorts across state lines and internationally for prolonged sexual performances known as “freak-offs.”

Federal prosecutors told Judge Arun Subramanian the conviction deserved to be upheld in part because even as a voyeur Combs was violent.

“Ms. Ventura was getting punched in the face,” prosecutor Christy Slavik said. “Regulating prostitution is important because it can include discouraging violence against women.”

Subramanian did not immediately rule but indicated the parties would have his decision soon.

Members of the Combs family, including his mother and children, were seated in the gallery.

“I appreciate y’all. I love y’all so much,” Combs told them after the hearing ended. He also expressed his hopes for a quick release from jail.

“Every day, every hour I’m closer to coming home,” Combs said after given permission to speak to his family. “Don’t worry about nothing. No matter what is. I’m going to deal with whatever it is.”

The Bad Boy Records founder has been sitting in a Brooklyn jail for the past 13 months, stripped from the life he once knew.

His lawyers say the 55-year-old should be freed now, asking for a sentence of no more than 14 months in prison including his time already served.

Federal prosecutors say he should spend several more years behind bars.

More than 70 letters have been submitted to a federal judge from family friends and former employees asking for leniency ahead of Combs’ sentencing scheduled for next Friday.

(ABC News contributed to this report.)