What is the Mann Act, the 114-year-old law used to convict Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs?

Why is it called the Mann Act?

The Mann Act was passed by the US Congress in 1910 and named after Republican Representative James Robert Mann of Illinois. It was originally known as the “White-Slave Traffic Act”, intended to crack down on forced prostitution and sex trafficking. It criminalised the transport of “any woman or girl for the purpose of prostitution or debauchery, or for any other immoral purpose.”

Initially aimed at addressing what was perceived as the forced trafficking of women (often sensationalised as “white slavery”), the law’s vague wording led to numerous controversial prosecutions. According to Cornell Law School’s Legal Information Institute, the statute was later used to criminalise interracial relationships, consensual sex, and other forms of behaviour labelled as “immoral” by early 20th-century standards.

How does it apply to Combs’ case?

Combs was convicted of transporting individuals across state lines for prostitution, specifically involving two women: R&B singer Cassie and another woman who testified under the pseudonym Jane.

Cassie Ventura, right, walks out of the courtroom past Sean Diddy Combs after testifying in Manhattan federal court, Tuesday, May 13, 2025, in New York. (Elizabeth Williams via AP)

Cassie said Combs pressured her into degrading sex marathons with strangers and beat her when she tried to leave one such event. Jane described a similar incident, saying Combs assaulted her when she refused to participate. Both women testified that some of the individuals involved were paid for sexual performances.

Though the court did not convict Combs on the more severe counts of sex trafficking, the Mann Act conviction still carries serious penalties and reputational damage.

What’s the history behind it?

The Mann Act was originally aimed at stopping the transport of women and girls for prostitution or “immoral purposes.” It gained notoriety for its use in controversial cases, most notably that of Jack Johnson, the first Black world heavyweight boxing champion. Johnson was convicted in 1913 for traveling with a white girlfriend who was a sex worker.

FILE – Boxer Jack Johnson, the first Black world heavyweight champion, poses in New York City, 1932. (AP Photo/File)

President Donald Trump posthumously pardoned Johnson in 2018, calling the conviction a “racially motivated injustice.”

How has the law changed since 1910?

A 1917 Supreme Court ruling expanded the act’s interpretation, allowing prosecutions for consensual sexual activity under the definition of “immoral purpose.”

In 1986, the Mann Act was amended to become gender-neutral, removing outdated phrases like “debauchery” and “immoral purpose” and replacing them with more legally precise language: “any sexual activity for which any person can be charged with a criminal offense.” The Act was also updated in 1978 and 1994 to focus specifically on the sexual exploitation of minors and child trafficking.

Today, the Mann Act is primarily used to prosecute interstate prostitution and child sex crimes, rather than consensual adult relationships. Still, its past continues to cast a shadow.

Despite these reforms, Combs’ lawyers sought to dismiss the charge, arguing that the Mann Act still carried racial baggage. Prosecutors pushed back, pointing out that most of Combs’ accusers are people of color and that the current use of the law is based strictly on the nature of the criminal acts.

(With Inputs from Associated Press)