Accused seek acquittal or a new trial - Defendants seek discharge or a re-trial.
Sean "Diddy" Combs, the renowned American rapper and entrepreneur, is facing a potential prison sentence of up to 10 years per count following his conviction on two counts of transporting and promoting prostitution. The specific charges against Combs and the location of the alleged incident remain undisclosed in the article.
Combs' legal team is arguing for acquittal or a retrial, contending that the conduct he was involved in—arranging for adult men to have consensual sexual relations with his long-term girlfriend as part of a swingers lifestyle—should not be criminalized under the Mann Act or related laws. They assert that there is no precedent for prosecuting and incarcerating someone for such consensual adult conduct, especially given Combs' non-participation in the sexual encounters he arranged and recorded.
The defense also highlights that while the jury acquitted Combs of more serious charges such as sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy, he was still convicted for transporting to engage in prostitution based on this arrangement. They argue that the law is being misapplied in this unique case and therefore seek either a judgment of acquittal or a new trial to address what they believe is a wrongful conviction.
In addition, Combs' attorneys have petitioned for him to be released on bail while he awaits sentencing, proposing a $50 million bond and house arrest in Miami. They emphasize the unusual nature of the charges and the facts of the case.
The prosecution's evidence for the two charges is described as "at best, thin". Combs has been detained in a New York jail since his arrest 10 months ago.
Whether the court will grant a request for acquittal or retrial remains to be seen. Sentencing is set for October 3. It is worth noting that Combs' lawyers claim he is the only person to ever be convicted for the type of behavior he is accused of.
[1] Source: Associated Press, 2022.
Sean "Diddy" Combs' lawyers argue for a retrial or acquittal, citing the lack of precedent for criminalizing consensual adult conduct and the misapplication of the law in this unique case. Given the controversial nature of the charges and the public attention it has garnered, the entertainment industry, celebrities, and general-news outlets are closely following the crime-and-justice developments in the United States, specifically in New York, concerning Sean "Diddy" Combs.
