Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ lawyer files motion for acquittal or retrial on prostitution-related charges
Written by WorldOneFm on July 31, 2025
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ legal team has filed a motion seeking either an acquittal or a retrial on prostitution-related charges.
On Wednesday, Combs’ legal team filed a motion urging the court to overturn his conviction for transporting people for the purpose of prostitution, or to grant him a new trial.
This latest development comes only days after Combs’ lawyers asked a federal judge to release him from custody on a $50 million (£37 million) bond while he awaits sentencing in October.
The 55-year-old’s legal team argued that he is being treated too harshly by being held in custody despite being found not guilty of the most serious charges, including sex trafficking and racketeering, earlier this month.
According to Wednesday’s filing, the I’ll Be Missing You hitmaker’s lawyers claimed that he did not violate the Mann Act, a federal statute that criminalises transporting someone across state lines for illicit sexual activity.
“To our knowledge, Mr. Combs is the only person ever convicted of violating the statute for conduct (for) anything like this,” the legal team wrote. “It is undisputed that he had no commercial motive and that all involved were adults. The men chose to travel and engage in the activity voluntarily.”
“The verdict confirms the women were not vulnerable or exploited or trafficked or sexually assaulted during the Freak-Offs (sex parties) or hotel nights,” the motion continued. “And Mr. Combs never had sex with the supposed ‘prostitutes.'”
Combs’ lawyers argued that their client “typically hired the services of male escorts or dancers advertised openly through lawful businesses” and that the men were “paid for their time”.
The motion also claimed that the male escorts and dancers had even formed “friendships” with Combs’ ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, who previously accused him of rape and sex trafficking.
If an acquittal is not granted, the legal team stated that they will seek a retrial “due to severe spillover prejudice from reams of inflammatory evidence”, including the 2016 hotel CCTV footage of Combs physically assaulting Ventura.
Combs’ sentencing hearing is scheduled for 3 October in New York.
