Sean “Diddy” Combs is making a legal move to overturn his conviction under the federal Mann Act, asserting in newly filed court documents that the law was wrongly applied to him. The hip-hop mogul, through his legal team, filed a motion late Wednesday night requesting an acquittal or, alternatively, a brand-new trial focused solely on the two counts tied to the Mann Act.
The Mann Act, a century-old statute, criminalizes the transportation of individuals across state lines for sexual purposes, often in the context of prostitution. But Diddy’s defense argues his case is unlike any that has come before it, and they want Judge Arun Subramanian to take notice. According to documents obtained by TMZ, Diddy is the only individual convicted under the law who neither profited from prostitution nor engaged in sex with alleged prostitutes. His lawyers argue he didn’t facilitate the travel or transactions associated with any sex work either.
The trial testimony painted a picture of Diddy as more of a bystander than a participant. Neither Cassie Ventura nor the anonymous accuser known as “Jane,” nor any of the sex workers involved, claimed that Diddy had sexual relations with them. Instead, they testified that he was either recording or observing the encounters between women and male sex workers. In many instances, it was the women, not Diddy, who arranged the logistics, including travel and payment for the sex workers.
Diddy’s legal team emphasizes that voyeurism, even if paid for, does not equate to prostitution. They point to rulings from various state courts that explicitly state paying to observe consensual sex acts does not violate prostitution laws. Further, they argue that the male sex workers involved were not coerced or trafficked, but rather consenting adults with established friendships with Cassie and Jane, which undercuts any narrative of exploitation or criminal facilitation.
Another layer of Diddy’s defense is rooted in the First Amendment. The motion claims that the private filming of the sexual encounters amounted to “amateur pornography for later private viewing,” a form of expression they argue is constitutionally protected.
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In the event the court does not acquit him on counts 3 and 5 of the federal indictment, Diddy’s lawyers are pushing for a new trial, this time with strict limitations on the evidence presented. Specifically, they are fighting to exclude the infamous video footage from the Intercontinental Hotel involving Cassie. That video was allowed during the original trial because of broader RICO and sex trafficking charges, which Diddy has since been acquitted of. His defense now claims the footage is irrelevant to the Mann Act charges and served only to unfairly sway the jury.
The high-stakes legal fight could take yet another twist, as insiders say former President Donald Trump is actively considering a pardon for Diddy. A decision may come after the judge rules on whether Diddy will be granted bail while awaiting sentencing scheduled for October.
For now, the music mogul isn’t just fighting for leniency, he’s fighting to erase the convictions from his record altogether. Whether the judge finds merit in his claims remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Diddy isn’t backing down from the courtroom spotlight anytime soon.
