Lawyers for Sean “Diddy” Combs say the rapper has been subject to a “racist” prosecution and are seeking to dismiss one of the criminal charges against him.
In a court filing seen by Sky News, the 55-year-old’s legal team say he “has been singled out because he is a powerful black man” and is being prosecuted “for conduct that regularly goes unpunished”.
Combs was charged with racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, and transportation to engage in prostitution, in September 2024.
He has pleaded not guilty, said his sexual relationships were consensual, and strenuously denied allegations of wrongdoing.
His lawyers have now filed the motion to dismiss the transportation charge.
Image: Sean Combs (right) and his attorney, Marc Agnifilo, (left) at Manhattan Federal Court in September 2024. Sketch: Elizabeth Williams via AP
“This case is unprecedented in many ways, but perhaps most notably, and most disturbingly, no white person has ever been the target of a remotely similar prosecution,” the court document states.
It goes on to list his achievements as an “extraordinarily successful artist, businessman, philanthropist and one of the most accomplished black people in this country”.
However, “like many other celebrities”, Combs has had “complicated relationships with significant others as well as with alcohol and drugs throughout his time in the spotlight”, his lawyers say. “But that doesn’t make him a racketeer, or a sex trafficker.”
The rapper’s legal team claims there “has never been a similar prosecution” under the Mann Act, the federal law the count falls under, which is also known as the White-Slave Traffic Act.
They allege the US government has “concocted” its case based on allegations Combs would sometimes bring escorts into his relationships.
“No other person, and certainly no white person, has ever previously been prosecuted under the White-Slave Traffic Act for hiring male escorts from another state,” their court filing states.
They also allege the government’s handling of the case “demonstrates bias”, and add that during the investigation of Combs, his home was raided with “utterly unnecessary military-level force”.
The US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York declined to comment on the latest court filing when contacted by Sky News.
In September, Marc Agnifilo, one of Combs’ lawyers, told US entertainment site TMZ he believed the US government had made the case “as a takedown of a successful black man”.
Prosecutors addressed the comments in a subsequent court hearing, US media reported in October, saying Mr Agnifilo had “baselessly accused the government of engaging in a racist prosecution”, and that this risked prejudicing potential jurors.
Neighbours has been axed for a second time, just two years after Amazon threw the Australian soap a lifeline.
A statement on the programme’s social media accounts confirmed the final episode of the 40-year series would air in December 2025.
The show follows the lives of the residents of Erinsborough, a fictional suburb of Melbourne, with famous former alumni including Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan and Margot Robbie.
Executive producer Jason Herbison said: “Audiences all around the world have loved and embraced Neighbours for four decades and we are very proud of the huge success over the last two years including often appearing as one of the Top 10 titles in the UK and the show’s first ever Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Daytime Series in 2024.
“As this chapter closes, we appreciate and thank Amazon MGM Studios for all that they have done for Neighbours – bringing this iconic and much-loved series to new audiences globally.
“We value how much the fans love Neighbours and we believe there are more stories of the residents of Ramsay Street to tell in the future.”
Image: Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan returned for the first series finale. Photo by Fremantle Media/Shutterstock
It is the second time the show has been cancelled, after it was first axed by Channel 5 in the UK after it failed to secure new funding.
But a few months after what was meant to be its final episode, the series was revivedby streaming giant Amazon Freeve and Freemantle.
The show is available online in the UK and on Channel 10 in Australia.
Channel 10 said on X: “They’ve been our neighbours for almost 40 years, we’re so sad to be saying goodbye. We’d like to thank everyone who has contributed to this remarkable Australian story over the years.”
Dad was a showman with great charisma, but he never lost sight of the fact that an interview is about the guest, not the host.
That is made clear when you review the 10,000+ interviews he did, as I have done over the last decade since he left us.
That theme has been central to the series, David Frost Vs.
Image: David Frost with Muhammad Ali. Pic: David Paradine Productions Ltd
Image: Elton John and David Frost in New York in 1978. Pic: Adam Scull/Shutterstock
Image: John Lennon and Yoko Ono with Sir David. Pic: ITV/Shutterstock
Six individual films about crucial moments in our recent history, that are still relevant and resonant today, where Dad just happened to have a front row seat, not six films specifically about Dad.
His extraordinarily revealing interviews with the likes of The Beatles, Yoko Ono, Muhammad Ali, Jane Fonda, Elton John and Richard Nixon are in part so revealing because they were given time to breathe.
Image: Jane Fonda being interviewed by David Frost. Pic: David Paradine Productions Ltd
Image: David Frost with George Harrison and John Lennon in 1967. Pic: ITV/Shutterstock
Long-form is critical to have a chance of delivering the era-defining conversations that stand the test of time as he did so often. But it takes much more than that. These conversations are deeply personal.
I think our films will reveal more than expected about the people and topics we explore because you really feel the words being spoken.
Dad understood live television better than anyone and when it came to interviewing, both his guests and his viewers are drawn in because what drove him was a genuine curiosity about people.
Image: Sky’s Wilfred Frost interviewing Sir Keir Starmer last year
Image: David Frost with his wife Lady Carina and Wilfred as they left St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington on 19 August 1985. Pic: PA
He never entered an interview with an agenda. He was interested in the person in front of him and what they had to say.
But I don’t think that is something you can teach or learn. He just genuinely loved people.
David Frost Vs is coming soon to Sky Documentaries.
Creative control of the long-running James Bond franchise has been handed to Amazon MGM Studios, in a joint venture with the current owners.
Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson – who are the daughter and stepson of film producer Albert “Cubby” Broccoli, the man responsible for developing the Bond franchise into the success it is today – will remain co-owners of 007 intellectual property rights.
The pair own EON Productions, the company behind Bond films including Skyfall and Spectre. It has produced 25 films since 1962.
Image: Craig played Bond for a fifth and final time in No Time To Die. Pic: MGM
The deal follows speculation over when the next Bond movie – and indeed the next Bond – will be announced.
The last film, No Time To Die, was delivered four years ago to rave reviews and box office success. It was the swansong for Daniel Craig in his performance of the lady-loving spy.
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Details of the 26th official Bond film – and its new star – are yet to be revealed.
In a statement on EON Productions website, Mike Hopkins, head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios said they were “honoured to continue this treasured heritage” and looked forward to “ushering in the next phase of the legendary 007 for audiences around the world”.
Wilson said that after 60 years spent working across the franchise, he would now be focusing on “art and charitable projects”.
Image: Brian Cox and Barbara Broccoli on the 007: Road To A Million red carpet. Pic: Ian West
Barbara Broccoli said: “My life has been dedicated to maintaining and building upon the extraordinary legacy that was handed to Michael and me by our father, producer Cubby Broccoli.
“I have had the honour of working closely with four of the tremendously talented actors who have played 007 and thousands of wonderful artists within the industry. With the conclusion of No Time To Die and Michael retiring from the films, I feel it is time to focus on my other projects.”
In 2022, Amazon bought MGM Studios, which distributes Bond, for $8.45bn (£6.79bn).
Since the acquisition, the streamer has held the rights to distribute all the Bond movies.
Image: Cox as The Controller in 007’s Road To A Million. Pic: Amazon Prime Video
In the spring of 2023, Amazon Prime Video launched Bond-themed reality show, 007 Road To A Million.
Hosted by Succession star Brian Cox, it offered nine pairs of contestants the chance to win £1m as they travelled through global locations associated with the franchise.
While no one took home the full £1m jackpot, brothers James and Joey did take £150,000. The show was met with a mixed critical reception but was given the green light for a second season.