Diddy Seeks Dismissal of “Racist” Sexual Misconduct Charge, Citing Racial Bias

Hip-hop mogul Diddy is confronting his federal sexual misconduct charges with claims of racial bias, arguing in a recent court motion that the charges are selectively applied.

Filed by his legal team on February 18, the motion challenges the use of the Mann Act against Diddy, highlighting that the law, established in 1910 to prevent the transportation of women across state lines for “immoral purposes,” has not historically been used against white individuals in similar circumstances.

They claimed that no white person has ever been targeted with this specific law, writing, “Mr. Combs has been singled out because he is a powerful Black man, and he is being prosecuted for conduct that regularly goes unpunished. What was racist in its inception has often been racist in its operation.”

Diddy’s defense team contends that he has been unfairly targeted because of his status as a “powerful Black man,” suggesting that the enforcement of the law carries racial undertones. They argue, “What was racist in its inception has often been racist in its operation.”

“The government’s handling of this case demonstrates bias and animus,” they wrote. “It has gone out of its way to humiliate Mr. Combs and to prejudice the jury pool with pretrial publicity that plays on racist tropes. It has leaked damaging (and often times false) material to the press.”

In addition to refuting the charges, Diddy’s lawyers maintain that all interactions with the alleged victims were consensual, countering prosecution claims of coercion.

They also accuse the prosecution of leaking prejudicial information to tarnish Diddy’s public image, stating that these leaks are part of a broader effort to sway public and juridical perception through negative media coverage.

As the legal proceedings evolve, the prosecution has dismissed these accusations as “baseless,” expressing concerns in October that such claims might undermine the fairness of the upcoming trial. Diddy, who was arrested in September 2024, is currently in custody, with his trial scheduled for May 5.