Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ attorneys to argue to overturn his conviction

Sept. 25 (UPI) — Sean “Diddy” Combs will appear in a New York federal court Thursday to try to get his conviction overturned.

Combs was convicted of transportation for the purposes of prostitution on July 2. He was found not guilty of sex trafficking and racketeering. He has been in a Brooklyn jail for more than a year.

Defense attorneys are expected to ask Judge Arun Subramanian to overturn the conviction because Combs’ intent was voyeurism, not prostitution for profit. They also say the male escorts traveled voluntarily to the “freak offs” that Combs conducted.

“To our knowledge, Mr. Combs is the only person ever convicted of violating the statute for conduct anything like this,” said his defense attorneys in a written filing. “The proof at trial showed that he typically hired the services of male escorts or dancers advertised openly through lawful businesses, that the men were paid for their time, and that they enjoyed the activities and had friendships with Ms. [Cassie] Ventura and Jane [a pseudonym] and were not merely traveling to have sex for money.”

The defense also argues that Combs’ actions are protected by the First Amendment because the events were recorded to watch privately.

“The freak-offs and hotel nights were performances that he or his girlfriends typically videotaped so they could watch them later. In other words, he was producing amateur pornography for later private viewing,” the defense said.

Prosecutors have said that Combs used violence against the women involved and “plied” them with drugs to make them participate in the “freak-offs” and “hotel nights.” They also allege that the prostitution transportation was for them to “engage in sex acts for pay,” the prosecution wrote in court papers.

“The defendant masterminded every aspect of Freak Offs. He transported escorts across state lines to engage in Freak Offs for pay. He directed the sexual activity of escorts and victims throughout Freak Offs for his own sexual gratification. And he personally engaged in sexual activity during Freak Offs,” prosecutors said.

A sentencing hearing is expected to be on Oct. 3.

On Tuesday, Combs’ attorneys requested his sentence be for 14 months in jail, which would be for time served. They said that he had gotten clean of all substances while in jail.