Rapper Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has been denied bail after a jury found the rapper guilty of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has been denied bail and remains behind bars in New York City as he awaits his sentencing on prostitution-related charges. A jury found the rapper guilty of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution last month, but he was acquitted of the most serious charges in his criminal trial of a racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking.
The music mogul still faces up to 20 years in prison for the two counts he has been convicted of, according to Assistant US Attorney Maurene Comey. As the jury delivered their verdict, Diddy dropped to his knees with his head in his hands as claps and cheers broke out around the courtroom.
Judge Arun Subramanian set Diddy’s sentencing for October 3. Last week, Diddy’s lawyers filed a motion to get the star released on a $50million bail. However, the judge ruled against the motion and said Diddy ‘failed to satisfy his burden to demonstrate an entitlement to release.’
After Diddy was found guilty, his defense lawyer insisted that the star will “sleep well” in jail. Lawyer Anna Estevao told reporters outside court in July: “This is a huge win.
“He was acquitted of sex trafficking, acquitted of RICO conspiracy, he will be able to sleep well at night knowing that.”
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump recently set the record straight on whether he could possibly offer the music star a presidential pardon and admitted he had been “seriously considering” the possibility.
However, Trump ultimately suggested the answer would be “more likely a no”.
“Well he was essentially, sort of, half-innocent. I don’t know what they do that he’s still in jail or something,” Trump said. “He was celebrating a victory but I guess it wasn’t as good a victory.”
The President recalled having a friendly rapport with Diddy in the past as they were both prominent figures in New York.
But he claimed that their relationship soured after Trump entered politics, pointing to Combs’ vocal support of Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential race.
“When I ran for office he was very hostile,” Trump told interviewer Rob Finnerty. “He made some terrible statements, so I don’t know — it makes it more difficult to do.” When he was pressed on whether a pardon was off the table, Trump replied: “I’d say so.”
Diddy was acquitted earlier last month of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy charges related to ex-girlfriend and singer Cassie Ventura and another woman referred to as Jane.
He was found guilty on two federal counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, which was a violation of the Mann Act.
The Mann Act is a federal law that was passed in 1910 and “criminalizes the transportation of ‘any woman or girl for the purpose of prostitution or debauchery, or for any other immoral purpose”, according to Cornell Law School. It is named after Illinois Congressman James R. Mann.
They continue: “Congress appointed a commission in 1907 to investigate into the problem of immigrant prostitutes. It was alleged that immigrant women were brought to America for sexual slavery and immigrant men lured American girls into prostitution (or “white slavery”).”
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