Sean “Diddy” Combs is facing mounting legal pressure as federal prosecutors move to block his latest attempt to overturn his conviction on two Mann Act charges. In a sharp filing this week, prosecutors urged the judge to “swiftly reject” Diddy’s motion for acquittal or a new trial, arguing the jury’s guilty verdict was firmly supported by evidence.
The music mogul was convicted earlier this year of facilitating prostitution-related conduct involving male escorts who were transported across state lines between 2008 and 2024. Prosecutors pointed to testimony that detailed how Diddy arranged and paid for the encounters, describing a pattern of coercion and control.
“He asserted substantial control over Ventura and Jane’s lives… controlled and threatened Ventura’s career, controlled her appearance, and paid for most of her living expenses, taking away physical items when she did not do what he wanted,” the filing stated.
Diddy’s defense team, however, has argued the trial was tainted by unrelated accusations of racketeering and sex trafficking, charges the jury ultimately dismissed. They accused the government of unfairly portraying Diddy as a predator, writing that prosecutors “painted him as a monster” by leaning on allegations that were unsupported by credible evidence. His attorneys also challenged the use of the Mann Act in this case, claiming it is unprecedented to apply it to what they described as consensual adult “freak-offs” or “hotel nights.” They even argued the acts amounted to “amateur pornography” and should fall under First Amendment protection.
Prosecutors firmly rejected those claims, insisting that the Mann Act is neither vague nor unconstitutional, and that the defense’s attempts to reframe the conduct as consensual missed the broader context of manipulation and coercion. They maintained that the jury had correctly weighed the evidence and returned the appropriate verdict, stressing that Diddy should serve several years in prison.
The judge has yet to rule on the motion, but the filing underscores the uphill battle for Combs as he continues to fight the conviction.
Source: NBC News
