Diddy's conviction is racist, says rapper's lawyer

Sean “Diddy” Combs’ legal team argues his conviction under the 1910 Mann Act for two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution is tainted by the law’s racist and sexist history. In a filing seeking bail before his October 3, 2025, sentencing, attorney Marc Agnifilo stated, “Sean Combs should not be in jail for this conduct,” noting Combs did not profit financially from the acts, unlike typical Mann Act cases historically targeting pimps.

Agnifilo highlighted the law’s misuse, citing the 1913 conviction of Black boxer Jack Johnson for transporting a white woman across state lines, a case later pardoned in 2018.Despite acquittal on graver charges of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy, which carried potential life sentences, Combs faces up to 20 years for the prostitution charges.

His team requested a $50-million bond, arguing the Metropolitan Detention Center’s conditions are dangerous. Prosecutors claimed Combs coerced former girlfriends, including Cassie Ventura, into drug-fueled “freak-offs” with male escorts, while the defense insisted participation was consensual. Combs’ lawyers plan to appeal, challenging the conviction’s fairness. The US Attorney’s Office has not responded.