Combs sentencing hearing begins, 'Mia' will not give a statement
Sean Combs entered the courtroom for his sentencing hearing Friday wearing dark pants and a light-colored sweater over a white button-down. He shook hands with some of his attorneys, hugged others and gestured toward his family crammed into the second and third rows of the gallery.
"Good morning judge," Combs said when greeted by Judge Arun Subramanian.
Subramanian said he receive "a lot" of materials ahead of time, including the letter from Combs himself, the video the defense intends to play and an evaluation of the 6-week course Combs taught to fellow inmates at MDC-Brooklyn.
There will be no victim impact statements after a former Combs assistant who testified under the pseudonym “Mia” bowed out.
"This morning the government learned 'Mia' no longer wishes to address the court here today," prosecutor Christie Slavik said, adding that a "bullying" letter from the defense was part of her reasoning.
"The tone of the defense's letter was inappropriate," Subramanian said. "That should not be done again."
In addition to Combs, two or three of his children and a pastor intend to speak ahead of the imposition of the sentence. Doctors who evaluated Combs are prepared to speak if necessary, defense attorney Brian Steel said.
Combs to speak in court
Sean Combs plans to speak in court in the "most dignified and respectful fashion possible," according to a court filing from his lawyers.
In a letter submitted to the judge on Thursday, Combs apologized for his actions and argued he was reformed in prison, becoming sober for the first time.
"I have been putting in the work and working diligently to become the best version of myself to ensure that I never make the same mistakes again," Combs wrote.
The letter also stated: "I want to apologize and say how sincerely sorry I am for all of the hurt and pain that I have caused others by my conduct. I take full responsibility and accountability for my past wrongs."
Combs asks for video to be played at sentencing
Sean Combs has asked to play a 15-minute video during Friday’s sentencing hearing.
The video shows Combs playing with his children, mourning Kim Porter and giving motivational speeches at fundraisers in New York.
It is a selective compilation of a public figure who has been unceasingly photographed and videotaped at home and in professional settings and is meant to help convince the judge that Combs deserves imminent release.
The judge has seen other video that casts Combs in the reddish hue of a "freak off" or under the fluorescent hallway lights of a Los Angeles hotel punching and kicking Cassie Ventura.
-ABC News’ Aaron Katersky
Prosecutors push for 11 years in prison
Federal prosecutors say Sean Combs was violent, abusive and left victims in fear, so even though he was acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy charges, they say he still deserves at least 11 years in prison.
Prosecutors argued Combs held all the power over the people he transported, particularly ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, who ended up "bloodied and busied," as depicted on hotel security camera video.
Prosecutors said the sentence should reflect Combs' "decades of unchecked violence" and "decades of psychological, emotional and physical damage he has inflicted."