Diddy’s Attorneys Push to Dismiss Charges, Citing Racism

NEW YORK, NY — Attorneys for Sean "Diddy" Combs filed a motion Tuesday evening to dismiss one charge against the music mogul, alleging that he is a victim of a racially biased prosecution. Combs, who is currently incarcerated, maintains his innocence against the federal charges brought against him.

The motion specifically targets Count Three, which accuses Combs of using transportation to engage in prostitution under The Mann Act. Combs’ defense argues that there has never been a similar prosecution against a white individual. “This case is unprecedented in many ways, but perhaps most notably, and most disturbingly, no White person has ever been the target of a remotely similar prosecution,” the motion states.

According to the filing, Combs has been singled out because of his status as a powerful Black man, emphasizing that he is facing charges for conduct that typically goes unpunished. “Mr. Combs is being prosecuted for conduct that regularly goes unpunished,” the defense claimed.

The Mann Act, initially known as the White-Slave Traffic Act, was enacted in 1910 to combat the transportation of women for prostitution and human trafficking. Combs’ defense points to the statute’s controversial origins, arguing that it has historically targeted people of color.

Combs’ legal team has previously accused the government of racial bias. Marc Agnifilo, one of Combs’ attorneys, described the case as a “takedown of a successful Black man” during an interview last year. However, prosecutors strongly refuted these allegations, stating they pose a potentially serious threat to Combs’ right to a fair trial.

“He baselessly accused the government of engaging in a racist prosecution,” a prosecutor articulated at an October hearing. The court was informed that such claims could complicate the judicial proceedings.

Defense attorneys represented that the statute has primarily been applied against individuals of color, alleging, “What was racist in its inception has often been racist in its operation.” The implications of such historical context remain relevant as Combs faces three federal charges including racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking.

Combs has pleaded not guilty to all charges and is being held at a federal detention center in New York City. As of now, the defense has not provided any additional comments regarding their latest filing.