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CNN
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CNN
Sean ‘Diddy' Combs asks judge to acquit him or give him new trial, calling conviction ‘unconstitutional'
People in entertainment Sean 'Diddy' Combs Human rights CrimeFacebookTweetLink Follow Sean 'Diddy' Combs has asked the judge who is overseeing his case to acquit him or give him a new trial – before he has even been sentenced. In a 62-page memorandum, filed overnight on Wednesday, Combs' defense argues that he was unfairly targeted by the federal government and that his conviction was 'unconstitutional' and unprecedented. Combs was convicted on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution earlier this month, but was acquitted on the more serious charges of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking. During his trial, prosecutors accused Combs of leading a criminal enterprise made up of some of his closest employees, alleging they used threats, violence, forced labor, bribery and other crimes to force Casandra 'Cassie' Ventura and another woman, 'Jane,' to engage in drug-fueled sex acts with male escorts called 'Freak Offs' or 'hotel nights.' His lawyers argued the sex acts were consensual and merely preferences of a 'swingers'' lifestyle, while trying to undermine the hip-hop mogul's accusers by contending they were trying to gain a monetary benefit from Combs. He pleaded not guilty to all charges. The new filing states that Combs is the only person in America to be convicted under the Mann Act under his circumstances, with his attorneys arguing that had he only been charged with the two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, his trial would have been entirely different with less evidence of violence presented to the jury. 'This conviction stands alone, but it should not stand at all,' Combs' attorney Alexandra Shapiro wrote in the memorandum. 'Since the government arrested Sean Combs last September, it has painted him as a monster. For months, prosecutors accused him of running a 20-year racketeering enterprise and of sex trafficking multiple women,' the filing states. 'But his 2-month trial showed these charges were not supported by credible evidence, and the jury rejected them.' The filing continues: 'Mr. Combs now stands convicted only of two prostitution counts under the Mann Act, which doesn't require proof of coercion, threats, or fraud. The government told the jury it had to convict so long as Mr. Combs arranged for a long-time girlfriend or a paid male escort or entertainer to travel across state lines to get together and have sex. And that is all the jury convicted him for.' Combs' defense argues it is 'undisputed that he had no commercial motive and that all involved were adults,' adding that the 'men chose to travel and engage in the activity voluntarily.' 'To our knowledge, Mr. Combs is the only person ever convicted of violating the statute for conduct anything like this,' the filing states. Both of the government's alleged victims – former girlfriends Ventura and the woman who testified under the pseudonym 'Jane' – testified that they did not want to have sex with other men, telling the jury repeatedly that although they did engage in the drug-fueled 'Freak-Offs,' the sexual encounters were facilitated by Combs and they did not feel they had a choice, since he controlled their careers and finances. Ventura testified that she was scared of saying no to Combs' requests for her to have sex with other men because he was frequently violent with her. The jury was presented ample evidence of Combs' violence toward Ventura, including 2016 hotel surveillance footage of Ventura, which was first published by CNN in May 2024. Despite their graphic testimony, the jury did not convict Combs of sex trafficking either woman. 'The verdict confirms the women were not vulnerable or exploited or trafficked or sexually assaulted during the freak-offs or hotel nights,' the filing states. 'We are aware of no other case in which a person was convicted under' the Mann Act, 'even though he made no money from the 'prostitution,' didn't have sex with the alleged prostitutes, and didn't arrange the 'transportation' with the intent of committing sexual assault, sex trafficking, or a sex crime involving a minor. Indeed, under longstanding Department of Justice policy, Mann Act charges are not filed in similar circumstances.' 'Sean Combs sits in jail based on evidence that he paid adult male escorts and entertainers who engaged in consensual sexual activities with his former girlfriends, which he videotaped and later watched with the girlfriends,' the filing later states. 'That is not prostitution, and if it is, his conviction is unconstitutional.' Combs' team argues that the 'Freak-Off' videos – portions of which were viewed numerous times by the jury – are not proof of coercion or prostitution, but rather 'amateur porn.' 'When considered in its totality, the evidence presented by the government makes clear that Mr. Combs's amateur porn, like many other adult films, was creative, intricate, and highly choreographed,' the filing states. 'The videos accordingly have expressive content and are protected by the First Amendment.' During trial, both women testified that Combs would threaten to release the sexually explicit videos that he had recorded of them, causing them to feel shame, embarrassment and fear. Combs' request for a new trial or a full acquittal comes the same week his defense filed another motion pleading with the judge to release the rap mogul from jail, this time on a $50 million bond ahead of his sentencing, citing similar Mann Act arguments, as well as claiming he is not a flight risk nor a danger to the community. (The judge has requested prosecutors respond to that filing by end of day Thursday.) That motion marked Combs' latest attempt at bail, after the judge had already denied his previous requests, citing his admitted pattern of violent behavior. When Combs requested to be released on bail after his sentencing, numerous witnesses – including Ventura – wrote letters to the judge, stating they would fear for their safety if Combs did not remain in jail. Combs' sentencing is currently set for October 3. He has been held in Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center since his arrest in Manhattan in September 2024.
CNN
13 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CNN
Sean ‘Diddy' Combs asks judge to acquit him or give him new trial, calling conviction ‘unconstitutional'
People in entertainment Sean 'Diddy' Combs Human rights Crime FacebookTweetLink Sean 'Diddy' Combs has asked the judge who is overseeing his case to acquit him or give him a new trial – before he has even been sentenced. In a 62-page memorandum, filed overnight on Wednesday, Combs' defense argues that he was unfairly targeted by the federal government and that his conviction was 'unconstitutional' and unprecedented. Combs was convicted on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution earlier this month, but was acquitted on the more serious charges of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking. During his trial, prosecutors accused Combs of leading a criminal enterprise made up of some of his closest employees, alleging they used threats, violence, forced labor, bribery and other crimes to force Casandra 'Cassie' Ventura and another woman, 'Jane,' to engage in drug-fueled sex acts with male escorts called 'Freak Offs' or 'hotel nights.' His lawyers argued the sex acts were consensual and merely preferences of a 'swingers'' lifestyle, while trying to undermine the hip-hop mogul's accusers by contending they were trying to gain a monetary benefit from Combs. He pleaded not guilty to all charges. The new filing states that Combs is the only person in America to be convicted under the Mann Act under his circumstances, with his attorneys arguing that had he only been charged with the two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, his trial would have been entirely different with less evidence of violence presented to the jury. 'This conviction stands alone, but it should not stand at all,' Combs' attorney Alexandra Shapiro wrote in the memorandum. 'Since the government arrested Sean Combs last September, it has painted him as a monster. For months, prosecutors accused him of running a 20-year racketeering enterprise and of sex trafficking multiple women,' the filing states. 'But his 2-month trial showed these charges were not supported by credible evidence, and the jury rejected them.' The filing continues: 'Mr. Combs now stands convicted only of two prostitution counts under the Mann Act, which doesn't require proof of coercion, threats, or fraud. The government told the jury it had to convict so long as Mr. Combs arranged for a long-time girlfriend or a paid male escort or entertainer to travel across state lines to get together and have sex. And that is all the jury convicted him for.' Combs' defense argues it is 'undisputed that he had no commercial motive and that all involved were adults,' adding that the 'men chose to travel and engage in the activity voluntarily.' 'To our knowledge, Mr. Combs is the only person ever convicted of violating the statute for conduct anything like this,' the filing states. Both of the government's alleged victims – former girlfriends Ventura and the woman who testified under the pseudonym 'Jane' – testified that they did not want to have sex with other men, telling the jury repeatedly that although they did engage in the drug-fueled 'Freak-Offs,' the sexual encounters were facilitated by Combs and they did not feel they had a choice, since he controlled their careers and finances. Ventura testified that she was scared of saying no to Combs' requests for her to have sex with other men because he was frequently violent with her. The jury was presented ample evidence of Combs' violence toward Ventura, including 2016 hotel surveillance footage of Ventura, which was first published by CNN in May 2024. Despite their graphic testimony, the jury did not convict Combs of sex trafficking either woman. 'The verdict confirms the women were not vulnerable or exploited or trafficked or sexually assaulted during the freak-offs or hotel nights,' the filing states. 'We are aware of no other case in which a person was convicted under' the Mann Act, 'even though he made no money from the 'prostitution,' didn't have sex with the alleged prostitutes, and didn't arrange the 'transportation' with the intent of committing sexual assault, sex trafficking, or a sex crime involving a minor. Indeed, under longstanding Department of Justice policy, Mann Act charges are not filed in similar circumstances.' 'Sean Combs sits in jail based on evidence that he paid adult male escorts and entertainers who engaged in consensual sexual activities with his former girlfriends, which he videotaped and later watched with the girlfriends,' the filing later states. 'That is not prostitution, and if it is, his conviction is unconstitutional.' Combs' team argues that the 'Freak-Off' videos – portions of which were viewed numerous times by the jury – are not proof of coercion or prostitution, but rather 'amateur porn.' 'When considered in its totality, the evidence presented by the government makes clear that Mr. Combs's amateur porn, like many other adult films, was creative, intricate, and highly choreographed,' the filing states. 'The videos accordingly have expressive content and are protected by the First Amendment.' During trial, both women testified that Combs would threaten to release the sexually explicit videos that he had recorded of them, causing them to feel shame, embarrassment and fear. Combs' request for a new trial or a full acquittal comes the same week his defense filed another motion pleading with the judge to release the rap mogul from jail, this time on a $50 million bond ahead of his sentencing, citing similar Mann Act arguments, as well as claiming he is not a flight risk nor a danger to the community. (The judge has requested prosecutors respond to that filing by end of day Thursday.) That motion marked Combs' latest attempt at bail, after the judge had already denied his previous requests, citing his admitted pattern of violent behavior. When Combs requested to be released on bail after his sentencing, numerous witnesses – including Ventura – wrote letters to the judge, stating they would fear for their safety if Combs did not remain in jail. Combs' sentencing is currently set for October 3. He has been held in Brooklyn's Metropolitan Detention Center since his arrest in Manhattan in September 2024.
The Irish Sun
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Coronation Street star signs new contract to keep her on soap for another year – and escapes cost-cutting axe
CORONATION Street star Jane Hazlegrove has revealed she's signed a new contract to remain on the soap. The actress - who plays Bernie Winter in the ITV soap - has put pen to paper for another year on the cobbles after revealing she only joined the soap to pay for her new bathroom. 2 Jane Hazlegrove will remain on Coronation Street for at least another year Credit: ITV 2 Bernie collapses on her wedding day struggling to breathe Credit: ITV And it means she's escaped Jane first appeared on the cobbles in 2019 as Gemma Winter and Paul Foreman's estranged mother Bernie, but since then she's become a fan favourite. And luckily for them, she's going nowhere. Speaking to My Weekly, Jane revealed: 'I only came into Coronation Street for 10 episodes to get a new bathroom. Read more on Coronation Street 'I'd run out of money and when they said, 'Will you come and do Corrie for a bit?' I thought, 'Yes! That will pay for a nice white suite!. 'I've been here for six years now and I've just signed for another year. It's a lovely place to work. I feel very blessed.' The star's character Bernie is set to marry Dev Alahan next week in a huge soap wedding - but typically things go horrifically wrong. As she heads to the ceremony, Bernie realises she's forgotten a locket from her late son Paul so heads back to the house. Most read in Soaps But while there she finds it being burgled and she confronts them - before eventually rushing over to tie the knot. However after arriving and dancing herself down the aisle Bernie suffers a health emergency and stops breathing. Jane explained: 'Suddenly Bernie can't breathe, the poor love, and ends up in A&E. 'They've lost the plot!' rage Coronation Street viewers as they call out baffling Bernie Winter blunder 'Dev, and a lot of people, think she's on her way out because it's quite serious. 'She is really frightened, this has come from nowhere and she can't breathe. It' s terrifying. Is she going to be okay?' She added: 'That's what is so brilliant about Coronation Street, you don't know what you're going to get until you open the page of the script and that's what is so fantastic about how it plays out – we've got this woman raving down the aisle and the next minute she's in casualty , pardon the pun! Coronation Street's 2024 shock exits Corrie has said goodbye to several cast members this year. Let's break down who's left the famous soap: Eliza Woodrow (Savannah Kunyo) The youngster moved to live with her dad Dom Everett, who went back on the £10,000 bribe Eliza's grandfather Stu had offered to keep him out of her life. Paul Foreman (Peter Ash) After being diagnosed last year, the fan favourite was devastated to learn he only had months left to live. Viewers know he is planning to take his own life to end his suffering. Summer Spellman (Harriet Bibby) Though she struggled to decide with her stepdad Paul's impending death from MND, she was convinced she had to live her life to the full. Simon Barlow ( The Weatherfield legend Simon's been on a downward spiral ever since and his exit could end in tragedy. It looks likely she'll be heading to Dublin after securing a lucrative new job, leaving her colleague and fling Adam Barlow behind. Show stalwart Sue Cleaver, who plays Eileen Grimshaw, is taking a break to star in the Sister Act The Musical UK tour. She will be back filming in May once her dates on the tour come to an end. Her character left the Street after her son Jason broke his back after falling off a moped in Asia. 'The writers throw all kinds of things at you and you just hope and pray you give credence and justice to whatever they've written. 'Who knows what Bernie is going to do next, that's why I love playing her.'
Scottish Sun
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Coronation Street star signs new contract to keep her on soap for another year – and escapes cost-cutting axe
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) CORONATION Street star Jane Hazlegrove has revealed she's signed a new contract to remain on the soap. The actress - who plays Bernie Winter in the ITV soap - has put pen to paper for another year on the cobbles after revealing she only joined the soap to pay for her new bathroom. 2 Jane Hazlegrove will remain on Coronation Street for at least another year Credit: ITV 2 Bernie collapses on her wedding day struggling to breathe Credit: ITV And it means she's escaped the axe as bosses scramble to save costs. Jane first appeared on the cobbles in 2019 as Gemma Winter and Paul Foreman's estranged mother Bernie, but since then she's become a fan favourite. And luckily for them, she's going nowhere. Speaking to My Weekly, Jane revealed: 'I only came into Coronation Street for 10 episodes to get a new bathroom. 'I'd run out of money and when they said, 'Will you come and do Corrie for a bit?' I thought, 'Yes! That will pay for a nice white suite!. 'I've been here for six years now and I've just signed for another year. It's a lovely place to work. I feel very blessed.' The star's character Bernie is set to marry Dev Alahan next week in a huge soap wedding - but typically things go horrifically wrong. As she heads to the ceremony, Bernie realises she's forgotten a locket from her late son Paul so heads back to the house. But while there she finds it being burgled and she confronts them - before eventually rushing over to tie the knot. However after arriving and dancing herself down the aisle Bernie suffers a health emergency and stops breathing. Jane explained: 'Suddenly Bernie can't breathe, the poor love, and ends up in A&E. 'They've lost the plot!' rage Coronation Street viewers as they call out baffling Bernie Winter blunder 'Dev, and a lot of people, think she's on her way out because it's quite serious. 'She is really frightened, this has come from nowhere and she can't breathe. It' s terrifying. Is she going to be okay?' She added: 'That's what is so brilliant about Coronation Street, you don't know what you're going to get until you open the page of the script and that's what is so fantastic about how it plays out – we've got this woman raving down the aisle and the next minute she's in casualty, pardon the pun! Coronation Street's 2024 shock exits Corrie has said goodbye to several cast members this year. Let's break down who's left the famous soap: Eliza Woodrow (Savannah Kunyo) has said farewell to Corrie to start a new life in Germany. The youngster moved to live with her dad Dom Everett, who went back on the £10,000 bribe Eliza's grandfather Stu had offered to keep him out of her life. Paul Foreman (Peter Ash) will bow out of the soap this summer when he loses his fight with motor neurone disease (MND) in tragic scenes. After being diagnosed last year, the fan favourite was devastated to learn he only had months left to live. Viewers know he is planning to take his own life to end his suffering. Summer Spellman (Harriet Bibby) departed the cobbles after being offered the opportunity of a lifetime to study in America. Though she struggled to decide with her stepdad Paul's impending death from MND, she was convinced she had to live her life to the full. Simon Barlow (Alex Bain) has struggled with the sudden departure of his father Peter from the cobbles. The Weatherfield legend left his family and loved ones behind on Boxing Day, 2023, when his wife Carla Connor encouraged him to travel around the world with a friend. Simon's been on a downward spiral ever since and his exit could end in tragedy. Alya Nazir is set to leave the cobbles as actress Sair Khan prepares to go on maternity leave ahead of the birth of her first child. It looks likely she'll be heading to Dublin after securing a lucrative new job, leaving her colleague and fling Adam Barlow behind. Show stalwart Sue Cleaver, who plays Eileen Grimshaw, is taking a break to star in the Sister Act The Musical UK tour. She will be back filming in May once her dates on the tour come to an end. Her character left the Street after her son Jason broke his back after falling off a moped in Asia. 'The writers throw all kinds of things at you and you just hope and pray you give credence and justice to whatever they've written. 'Who knows what Bernie is going to do next, that's why I love playing her.'
Daily Mirror
15 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
P Diddy files for acquittal or a retrial over two prostitution related charges
Sean 'Diddy' Combs' has filed for an acquittal or a retrial over the two transportation to engage in prostitution charges relating to ex Cassie Ventura and a woman named Jane Sean 'Diddy' Combs' legal team have filed for an acquittal or a retrial. The disgraced rapper was found guilty of transportation to engage in prostitution, relating to ex girlfriend Cassie Ventura and another woman referred to as Jane. Earlier this month, he was found not guilty of racketeering and of sex trafficking Ventura and Jane. He dropped to the floor as the verdict, decided by eight men and four women, acquitted him of the most serious counts. The court heard how he flew people around the country, including his girlfriends and paid male sex workers, to engage in sexual encounters, a felony violation of the federal Mann Act. It comes after Combs was denied bail following the end of his two-month long trial. In a statement shared with the Mirror, Combs' team said: "This prosecution was unprecedented. This verdict is unsound. And this conviction, rooted in a misapplied, overbroad statute, should not stand." According to court documents from this week, Combs' attorneys have argued he did not violate the Mann Act. It is a federal law that makes it a crime to transport someone across state lines for illegal sexual activity. 'To our knowledge, Mr. Combs is the only person ever convicted of violating the statute for conduct [for] anything like this,' the motion states according to Page Six. It continues: '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 or hotel nights. And Mr. Combs never had sex with the supposed 'prostitutes.'' They went on to claim Combs "typically hired the services of male escorts or dancers advertised openly through lawful businesses" for Freak-Offs with Ventura and Jane. "The men were paid for their time," the motion said, 'and they enjoyed the activities and had friendships with Ms. Ventura and Jane and were not merely traveling to have sex for money.' Combs' lawyers argued that the partial conviction violates his First Amendment rights. The documents added: 'The Freak-Offs and hotel nights were performances that he or his girlfriends typically videotaped so they could watch them later." They said Combs was "producing amateur pornography for later private viewing since the films depicted adults voluntarily engaging in consensual activity." Combs' lawyers said if an acquittal is not granted then they would like a retrial "due to severe spillover prejudice from reams of inflammatory evidence." They made reference to footage from 2016 taken from hotel CCTV showing Combs attacking Ventura. 'This evidence, particularly the Intercontinental footage, was admissible only because of the RICO and sex-trafficking charges,' the filing said. 'It would never have been admitted at a trial solely on the Mann Act counts, as it was irrelevant and unfairly prejudicial. Under the Second Circuit's 'retroactive misjoinder' doctrine, a new trial limited to evidence admissible to prove the Mann Act charges is warranted.' Combs is currently behind bars as he awaits his sentencing. It is scheduled for October 3.
