Sean “Diddy” Combs is pushing back after being convicted earlier this month under the federal Mann Act.
In the motion filed late Wednesday, his legal team asked a New York federal court to overturn the conviction or to grant him a brand new trial.
“There was insufficient evidence that Mr. Combs transported anyone with the intent to engage in ‘prostitution,’ even if it includes any sex for money,” the motion argues. His attorneys say the law was too broadly applied in his case and insist the music mogul had “no commercial motive” and “did not intend for paid escorts to have sex with him.”
They also claim the conviction violates Diddy’s First Amendment rights, stating, “paying people to film them in sexual performances” is “protected First Amendment activity.”
Diddy was convicted on July 2 of two Mann Act charges, but he was acquitted on two counts of sex trafficking and a racketeering conspiracy charge.
“At minimum, a new trial is required,” the filing continues, citing “spillover prejudice” from what it calls “inflammatory” evidence related to the charges on which the disgraced music mogul was acquitted.
During the six-week trial, witnesses described alleged sex parties involving escorts and drug use, reportedly arranged by the Bad Boy boss, with him watching and recording.
The filing came just a day after Diddy’s legal team requested his release on $50 million bail while he awaits sentencing on Oct. 3.
