“Diddy” is fighting back in his ongoing legal battle, taking direct aim at federal prosecutors who oppose his bid to overturn his Mann Act conviction. The hip-hop mogul insists the government has relied on the wrong legal definition of prostitution to convict him, and he is demanding that the court either acquit him entirely or grant him a new trial.
In newly filed legal documents, obtained by reporters, Diddy’s legal team urged Judge Arun Subramanian to revisit the verdict. His attorneys argue that the case hinges on a fundamental misapplication of the Mann Act, a statute first enacted in 1910 as the White Slave Traffic Act.
Diddy contends that prosecutors unfairly used the modern definition of prostitution, which focuses on sex in exchange for money. Instead, he insists the court should apply the original 1910 interpretation, under which “a prostitute was defined as a woman who had sex outside of marriage.” By that measure, he says, the government’s case collapses.
The defense further maintains that prosecutors never conclusively proved he paid male escorts to sleep with his girlfriends. Instead, they argue, the payments covered the men’s time and companionship, not sexual services. Diddy again reiterated his defense that he was “merely a voyeur,” a lifestyle choice he claims does not violate the law.
His attorneys insist that without direct proof of prostitution, the Mann Act charges cannot stand. They are pushing the judge to either vacate the conviction outright or, at the very least, order a retrial.
The case has drawn widespread public attention, in part because of Diddy’s prior acquittals. On July 2, he was cleared of racketeering and sex trafficking charges, with the jury convicting him only on two lesser counts of transporting individuals for purposes of prostitution under the Mann Act. Following the verdict, Diddy immediately filed a motion seeking an acquittal or retrial. Prosecutors opposed the move, but this latest filing shows the music mogul is doubling down.
Diddy’s legal argument is as much about history as it is about law. By pointing to the century-old definition of prostitution, his defense team is attempting to highlight a gap between the statute’s original intent and its modern-day application. Whether the court will accept that reasoning remains uncertain, but the stakes are undeniably high.
As sentencing approaches, the pressure continues to mount. Diddy is scheduled to learn his fate on October 3. If the conviction stands, he could face significant consequences, both legally and professionally. For now, though, his team is putting the fight squarely back in the courtroom challenging not only the evidence but the very definition of the crime itself.