On Wednesday, Sean “Diddy” Combs requested that a New York federal court overturn his two convictions related to prostitution or grant him a new trial concerning only the evidence tied to those charges.
Combs was found guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution on July 2. According to The New York Times, Combs’ attorneys argued he should not have been charged under the 1910 Mann Act, which bans interstate commerce associated with prostitution.
“Mr. Combs, at most, paid to engage in voyeurism as part of a ‘swingers’ lifestyle. That does not constitute ‘prostitution’ under a properly limited definition of the statutory term,” appellate lawyer Alexandra Shapiro stated in the recent filing.
If their motion for acquittal is denied, Combs’ lawyers requested a new trial focused only on the Mann Act charges evidence.
They noted that “severe spillover prejudice from reams of inflammatory evidence” surrounds the sex trafficking and racketeering case against Combs — whom was acquitted of those charges, according to The New York Times.
Jurors heard testimonies from three women accusing Combs of physical or sexual abuse. Ventura, who dated Combs from 2007 to 2018, testified that Combs “stifled” her music career and forced her into “freak offs,” which involved her engaging in sexual activities with other men in Combs’ presence.
Ventura said the drug-fueled ordeals left her sleep-deprived and dehydrated, as they would last for days on end.
Another victim, who used the alias “Mia,” worked as Combs’ assistant for eight years. She accused Combs of forcing her to perform oral sex and sneaking into her bed to penetrate her without her consent. She also claimed Combs hurled objects at her and threw her against a wall.
A third woman, who used the pseudonym “Jane,” dated Combs from 2021 to 2024. She testified about “hotel nights,” which allegedly were sexual rendezvous arranged by Combs. Combs reportedly watched these encounters, which Jane said she had to be under the influence of drugs to participate.
The defense did not call a single witness to testify. Instead, they presented texts between Combs and the alleged victims, which they believe proved the sex encounters were consensual and non-coercive.
They compared Combs and Ventura to “swingers” — and claimed the issues in their relationship stemmed from Combs dating other women, not from the alleged “freak offs.”
Combs, who remains jailed, turned down a plea deal days before his trial began. His sentencing is scheduled for October 3.
[Feature Photo: Mark Von Holden/Invision/AP, File]
