So, it is actually true that the Mann Act (that Diddy is charged under) was initially passed to, more or less, criminalize black male sexuality. HOWEVER, it is currently used to criminalize sex trafficking. So the best way to avoid charges under it is to NOT BE a sex trafficker. - ThreadSky

elienyc.bsky.social • 3 days ago

So, it is actually true that the Mann Act (that Diddy is charged under) was initially passed to, more or less, criminalize black male sexuality.

HOWEVER, it is currently used to criminalize sex trafficking. So the best way to avoid charges under it is to NOT BE a sex trafficker.

Reposted from The New York Times

Lawyers for Sean Combs filed a motion on Tuesday night seeking the dismissal of one of the sex trafficking charges he is facing, arguing that he is being unfairly prosecuted based on his race.

Comments

felicebee.bsky.social•3 days ago

I could read Elie posts all day. He’s a gift!

sameastheold.bsky.social•3 days ago

It is going to be 20 years in March since Jeffrey Epstein was first investigated and not one of the clients has been arrested. The American Justice system will let you rape children if you have enough power and wealth.

sciencesloth.bsky.social•3 days ago

POV Elie offering advice to Diddy and his close friends Elon and Donald:

elienyc.bsky.social•3 days ago

If you're interested in laws initially passed for racist reasons which are STILL FUNCTIONING AS RACIALLY BIASED LAWS TODAY, might I suggest picking up my upcoming book, BAD LAW: 10 Popular Laws Ruining America.
I get into a few that don't involve baby oil.

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bad-law-elie-mystal/1146017643

wendyatlanticcan.bsky.social•3 days ago

Already pre-ordered.

aboukone.bsky.social•3 days ago

🔥🔥🔥 intervention on C SPAN this morning. Your unapologetic Blackness was refreshing! Keep being you!

catpaws313.bsky.social•3 days ago

📌

scaustin.bsky.social•3 days ago

I don't know Elie. Mylo Schlecht doesn't recommend your book.

heathermcg.bsky.social•3 days ago

Yes yes yes! I'm not a lawyer but I work for a nonprofit that has a lot of lawyers who advocate for worker protections on behalf of the most vulnerable workers. The blatant racism built into employment law is jaw dropping. Excited to read this book!

cynlawless.bsky.social•3 days ago

Elie Mystal!

maggs.bsky.social•3 days ago

Already preordered my copy of Bad Law last week! I truly enjoyed Allow Me to Retort, and learned so much I thought I knew, but didn't. I've given it as gifts to some of my family and friends.

madisonian76.bsky.social•3 days ago

I feel a Fathers Day request coming on!!!

debra.bsky.social•3 days ago

Baby oil. I’m listening.

hazellep.bsky.social•3 days ago

Thank you, Elie, 🩷 you

yourneighbor57.bsky.social•3 days ago

“If it were up to me, I’d treat every law passed before the Voting Rights Act of 1965 as presumptively unconstitutional. The government of this country was illegitimate when it ruled over people who had no ability to choose the rules.”
—from the introduction to Bad Law

Looks good to me!

rationalpear.bsky.social•3 days ago

excellent. we are in out 4th republic. it’s only fitting we don’t necessarily honor the laws from previous republics.

porcupunk.bsky.social•3 days ago

and every law passed after VRA was gutted, also presumably unconstitutional?

rebelpussy.bsky.social•3 days ago

📌

aafror.bsky.social•3 days ago

Truth. We can acknowledge racist laws exist, and work to improve the system, but that doesn't mean we tolerate sex trafficking along the way.

juryst.bsky.social•3 days ago

As long as the two guys that trump is getting out of prison in romania, are also charged under it, I guess that's fair.

raymond3024.bsky.social•3 days ago

I think it was mainly created because of Jack Johnson who white women worshipped

bigworker.bsky.social•3 days ago

"Sex trafficking" itself is usually kind of a bullshit crime though - basically just ends up meaning crossing state lines with a sex worker

elienyc.bsky.social•3 days ago

True. But sometimes it means... sex trafficking.

Anyway, I didn't include the Mann Act in my book because while it's one of a number of laws that could probably be reformed and more focused on serious offenders, it's not something that should repealed outright. We need anti-sex trafficking laws.

bigworker.bsky.social•3 days ago

Do we? To the extent they target behavior we actually want to ban they seem redundant with laws prohibiting kidnapping or forced labor.

elienyc.bsky.social•3 days ago

I don't think they're redundant and the Diddy case is a pretty good example of why.

bigworker.bsky.social•3 days ago

How so? Seems like he's got one count of forcing someone to have sex ("rape") - obviously illegal even without sex trafficking laws, and then some other counts of the bullshit "transporting individuals with intent to engage in prostitution" variety

elienyc.bsky.social•3 days ago

I don't think those other charges are "bullshit." I think, instead, that sex trafficking is a serious crime and should be. We're not talking about a customer who drives their escort from New York to Jersey. We're talking about, allegedly, a guy operating an interstate prostitution ring.

lmhinh.bsky.social•3 days ago

Diddy claiming that he’s being prosecuted solely due to race is similar to that time Kevin Spacey responded to assault allegations by coming out of the closet.
True, you are — but you also committed crimes that hurt real people.

ajboyack.bsky.social•3 days ago

To be fair, through, there are white sex offenders who now are powerful positions in government notwithstanding. Maybe Diddy is thinking that if he was white, he’d be in the Cabinet rather than in jail.

dsng480.bsky.social•3 days ago

I’m surprised Trump hasn’t pardoned Diddy, since Trump’s love of sexual predators is among the 3-4 genuine principles he holds, possibly more dearly than even racism.

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