Diddy requests that the court expedite the appeals process and reopen the criminal case

The demand comes after the 55-year-old musician was convicted of two felonies related to transportation for prostitutes. 

The Mirror US reports that Combs’ legal team has asked for an accelerated briefing and argument, detailing plans to contest the sentence and verdict, according to court records submitted on October 29. 

After a two-month trial, Combs—who has now been incarcerated for over a year—was found guilty of the prostitution-related counts but exonerated of more serious charges of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy.

“Sean’s appeal will challenge the unfair use of the Mann Act, an infamous statute with a sordid history, to prosecute him for sex with consenting adults,” Combs’ lawyer Alex Shapiro told The Mirror US.

The Mann Act, formerly known as the White-Slave Traffic Act, was passed in 1910 and forbids the movement of people across state lines for the purpose of prostitution or other illegal sexual behavior. 

Even after being renamed, the law is still contentious. 

Prosecutors misused the legislation in Combs’ case, according to his defense.

“Mr. Combs has been singled out because he is a powerful Black man, and he is being prosecuted for conduct that regularly goes unpunished,” the defense said in a court file that The Mirror US was able to receive. 

“No one else, and definitely no white person, has ever been prosecuted under the White-Slave Traffic Act for hiring male escorts from another State,” the petition went on to say.

Additionally, Combs’ attorneys claimed that prosecutors had engaged in racial bias and misconduct, saying that “the government’s handling of this case demonstrates bias and animus.” 

Additionally, they stated: “It has made a concerted effort to degrade Mr. Combs and to sway the jury pool by using racist stereotypes in its pretrial publicity.” It has given the media access to damaging—and frequently untrue—information.

Combs “has already served approximately 14 months of his 50-month sentence (his pre-trial incarceration commenced in September 2024), and it is unclear how much additional time he will ultimately” serve, according to the most recent request, which emphasized the defense’s view in the necessity of an expedited procedure.

Combs’ lawyers argued that the Residential Drug Abuse Program and the First Step Act, two federal programs that offer therapy and sentence-reduction possibilities to qualified inmates, could lower the remainder of his sentence.

Combs’ team has already asked for his release several times, but each time it has been turned down. 

While Combs continues to deny any involvement, the case’s accusers and prosecutors have frequently voiced concerns about their safety if the musician were released.