Diddy Claims Racial Bias in Mann Act Charges: “Just Another Attempt to Bring Down a Black Man”
Diddy is throwing down some serious accusations, claiming the federal government is using a century-old “racist” law to target him simply because of his status as a successful Black man. In recently filed legal documents, the music mogul is rallying against the Mann Act, legislation that has been hanging around since 1910 and historically linked to prosecutions of Black figures like legendary rocker Chuck Berry and boxing champ Jack Johnson. Diddy’s lawyers are asking the court to toss out the Mann Act-related charge accusing him of “transportation to engage in prostitution,” which Diddy argues is not only outdated but also selectively enforced based on race.
He argues that the law has not traditionally been applied to white individuals in similar situations. In his filing, Diddy pointed out that hiring escorts is a common practice and suggests that the charges against him stem from a double standard. “No other person, and certainly no white person, has ever been prosecuted under the White-Slave Traffic Act for hiring male escorts from another State,” he wrote. The business that allegedly entangled him in legal trouble is described as operating openly, giving Diddy further ammunition for his case.
Adding a cherry on top, Diddy cites former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer, who had to resign after his own escort scandal, yet did not face Mann Act charges himself. This legal sleight of hand sets the stage for Diddy’s claim that the emphasis on his case is racially motivated. His attorneys contend that the feds built their case on flimsy allegations of threesomes involving his girlfriends and a male escort, reiterating that such arrangements are a societal norm that you can find in the background of countless high-profile figures.
As the case evolves, Diddy’s argument raises provocative questions about race, privilege, and the legal system—issues that resonate deeply today. Whether or not the court will buy into his narrative remains to be seen, but it’s clear that he’s determined to fight back against what he perceives as a calculated attempt to drag his name through the mud.
Sources: Celebrity Storm Wire and TMZ, The New York Times, CNN
