Sean “Diddy” Combs filed a movement to overturn his prostitution convictions, saying the federal government “painted him as a monster” however that the jury “rejected” the case — and that the “freak-offs” have been simply pornographic film shoots protected by free speech.
Combs was acquitted earlier this month on probably the most critical legal prices he confronted over drug-fueled intercourse marathons known as “freak-offs,” however was convicted on two lesser counts of interstate prostitution.
In a brand new submitting on Thursday, his legal professionals took the long-awaited transfer of searching for to have that even these lesser convictions thrown out fully. They are saying the end result was “unprecedented” within the historical past of the federal prostitution regulation.
Associated
“Sean Combs sits in jail based mostly on proof that he paid grownup male escorts and entertainers who engaged in consensual sexual actions along with his former girlfriends, which he videotaped and later watched with the girlfriends,” writes Marc Agnfilo and Diddy’s different legal professionals. “That’s not prostitution, and whether it is, his conviction is unconstitutional.”
Along with arguing that the “freak-offs” didn’t really legally rely as prostitution, Diddy’s legal professionals are additionally making a inventive alternate argument: That his actions have been protected free speech underneath the First Modification.
“He was producing novice pornography for later personal viewing,” they write. “That is protected First Modification conduct that no substantial authorities curiosity justifies prohibiting, because the movies depicted adults voluntarily participating in consensual exercise.”
Combs was arrested and charged final 12 months with racketeering (RICO) and intercourse trafficking violations over accusations that he ran a sprawling legal operation geared toward facilitating the freak-offs — elaborate occasions which he allegedly compelled his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura and different girls to have intercourse with male escorts whereas he watched and masturbated.
However following a blockbuster trial in Could and June, a jury cleared Combs on the RICO and intercourse trafficking prices. The rapper was discovered responsible on two different counts for transporting Ventura, one other lady and varied intercourse employees throughout state strains for the needs of prostitution.
Combs will face sentencing on these convictions in October; sentencing tips counsel he’ll probably obtain between two and 5 years in jail.
Authorized filings are usually not the one avenue Combs is pursuing to clear his identify. President Trump is reportedly “closely weighing” giving him a full presidential pardon after a number of of his associates have pitched the White Home on such a transfer.