Lawyers forSean "Diddy" Combsare requesting his acquittal, or a new trial altogether, nearly a month after being cleared of the most serious of his sex-crimes charges in abombshell split decision. Combs' legal team filed a motion late Wednesday, July 30, asking the court to eitheroverturn his convictionon two counts oftransportation to engage in prostitutionor grant him a new trial, according to legal documents obtained by USA TODAY. The request comes days after the embroiled music mogul's team again asked Judge Arun Subramanian torelease Combs on a $50 million bondand allow him to live in his Miami mansion – instead of theMetropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York– as he awaitssentencing in October. Combs' legal team once again argues that use of theMann Act– officially known as the White-Slave Traffic Act, which makes it illegal to transport people across state or international lines for the purpose of prostitution – "in these circumstances is unprecedented" and raises concerns about "discriminatory enforcement." "Mr. Combs, at most, paid to engage in voyeurism as part of a 'swingers' lifestyle. That does not constitute 'prostitution' under a properly limited definition of the statutory term," Combs' team writes. The defense team claims Combs, 55, is the only person ever convicted under the Mann Act – which they say has been historically abused by law enforcement – under similar circumstances, because he wasn't selling sex, having sex with the "prostitutes" himself or arranging travel to commit sexual assault, sex trafficking or crimes against minors. Sean 'Diddy' Combs' lawyersslam feds for using 'racist' law 'used to target Black men' Combs' defense further says the Revolt TV founder's actions were not "prostitution" and that his behavior – filming and directing"freak off" sexual performances– is "protected First Amendment conduct." On July 2, jurors found Combs not guilty ofracketeeringand sex trafficking ex-girlfriendsCasandra "Cassie" Ventura Fineand a woman known as "Jane" in hissweeping, nearly two-month trial. The juryconvicted the Bad Boy Records founderon charges of transportation to engage in prostitution, which carries a maximum penalty of20 years in prison, or 10 years on each count. Prosecutors, though, have signaled that Combs himself may face a lesser time due to federal sentencing guidelines. The motion continues: "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. Ventura and Jane and were not merely traveling to have sex for money." In arguing for a new trial, the defense claims Combs' conviction was affected by "inflammatory evidence" stemming from the dismissedRICO charges, particularly the 2016 surveillance video of theproducer beating Cassie, which caused "severe spillover prejudice." They said the video would have been inadmissible otherwise, and evidence for the Mann Act convictions themselves was "weak." Trump 'should not pardon'Sean 'Diddy' Combs, Megyn Kelly says If Combs' motion is denied, his legal team will no doubt be awaiting a decision from the White House, afterPresident Donald Trumpweighed in on the possibilityof pardoning Combs pre-verdict on May 30 in the Oval Office. "Nobody's asked" about a pardon, the president said at the time. "But I know people are thinking about it. I know they're thinking about it. I think some people have been very close to asking." Trump added, "I haven't spoken to him in years. He really liked me a lot." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Diddy requesting acquittal, or new trial
