Diddy's attorneys to argue for acquittal

Sean Diddy Combs is returning to court today as his legal team attempts to overturn his conviction on two federal counts under the Mann Act.  His attorneys will argue before Judge Arun Subramanian, urging him to either acquit the music mogul on the charges or grant a new trial. Federal prosecutors, however, are firmly opposing both requests. The Mann Act, a century-old federal law, prohibits transporting individuals across state lines for purposes of prostitution. It has been used historically to prosecute sex trafficking and related offences. Diddys lawyers contend that his conviction was a misapplication of the law. They argue that he did not profit from prostitution, nor did he personally arrange the interstate transportation of s3x workers. Instead, they claim, his involvement was more voyeuristic than commercial. His attorneys have portrayed him as a participant in consensual s3xual encounters involving his ex-girlfriends and male s3x workers, saying he sometimes recorded the sessions but did not organise them as part of a sex ring. Federal prosecutors sharply dispute this narrative. They argue that extensive evidence presented during the trial demonstrated Diddys central role in what they described as his notorious freak-offs. According to the government, he was not merely a bystander but the architect, directing the s3xual conduct of escorts and victims and personally engaging in the acts by masturbating during the encounters. Prosecutors also dismantled the defences claim that Diddys activities were comparable to those of a porn producer protected under the First Amendment. They pointed out that many of the s3xual encounters were not filmed at all. For those that were recorded, prosecutors said there was often no advance notice to participants and no consent obtained for the filming. This, they argued, disqualified any free-expression defence and underscored the exploitative nature of the acts. The case has been one of the most closely watched celebrity legal battles of the year, given Diddys status in the entertainment industry and the serious implications of the charges. Both sides are expected to deliver forceful arguments before Judge Subramanian. As of now, Diddy remains scheduled for sentencing on October 3, even as his legal team makes this last-ditch effort to undo the conviction. The outcome of todays hearing could determine whether he faces a lengthy prison term or wins a reprieve that reopens one of the most sensational cases of his career.The post Diddy's attorneys to argue for acquittal appeared first on Linda Ikeji Blog.