Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs attempts to dismiss charge over “racist origins”
Sean ‘Diddy‘ Combs has filed a motion to dismiss a charge he’s facing, with attorneys claiming the rapper is the victim of a racist prosecution. The charge in question is transportation to engage in prostitution, which is Count Three in the superseding indictment against Combs.
The motion was filed on February 18th, making serious allegations about one of his three charges. “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 filing reads.
It continues, “Mr. Combs has been singled out because he is a powerful Black man, and he is being prosecuted for conduct that regularly goes unpunished.”
Combs’ attorneys say there has “never been a similar” prosecution under The Mann Act, which was previously called the White-Slave Traffic Act. It was passed in 1910 to stop the transportation of women for prostitution and human trafficking.
“What was racist in its inception has often been racist in its operation,” his attorneys said, according to CNN, claiming it has “a long and troubling history as a statute with racist origins, used to target Black men and supposedly protect white women from them.”
His lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, claimed the government were attempting a “takedown of a successful Black man” last year. Prosecutors criticised his comments, saying he caused a “serious risk” for a fair trial by “baselessly accusing the government of engaging in a racist prosecution.”
As well as transportation to engage in prostitution, Combs is also facing racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking charges. His trial is set to begin on May 5th; until then, he will remain behind bars at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York City.
Combs has pled not guilty to the charges and has been denied bail three times. His lawyers have been denying every sexual assault allegation, stating, “Mr. Combs and his legal team have full confidence in the facts and the integrity of the judicial process. In court, the truth will prevail: that Mr. Combs never sexually assaulted or trafficked anyone—man or woman, adult or minor.”
For help, advice or more information regarding sexual harassment, assault and rape in the UK, visit the Rape Crisis charity website. In the US, visit RAINN.
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