Diddy Claims Racist Targeting in Prostitution Charges

Sean 'Diddy' Combs is challenging a charge of transportation to engage in prostitution, claiming the law used against him, the Mann Act, has racist origins. His defense argues that the law, historically utilized to target Black men, has never been similarly applied to white individuals, asserting that Combs is being prosecuted for conduct that is commonly accepted in American culture. The motion to dismiss cites a lack of prior prosecutions under the Act for similar actions, highlighting the case of former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer as an example of selective enforcement. Combs, who faces multiple charges including sex trafficking and racketeering, has pleaded not guilty and is currently detained in Brooklyn. His attorneys argue that the prosecution demonstrates racial bias, with claims that he has been unfairly singled out due to his status as a powerful Black man. The trial is set to take place in May, amidst numerous civil lawsuits alleging sexual misconduct against him.