Federal Prosecutors Drop Key Charges Against Diddy in High-Profile Trafficking Trial
Federal Prosecutors Drop Key Charges Against Diddy in High-Profile Trafficking Trial
In a significant development, federal prosecutors have dropped several key allegations against music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs in his ongoing criminal trial in New York City. The dismissed charges include attempted kidnapping, attempted arson, and aiding and abetting sex trafficking.
The announcement came through a letter to U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian, just one day before closing arguments were scheduled. Prosecutors cited the judge’s instruction to “streamline” the jury instructions as a major reason behind the decision.
Despite this shift, Diddy still faces multiple sex trafficking charges tied to a broader racketeering case. However, the government appears to have encountered challenges in substantiating several of the more sensational claims that initially drew public attention.
One such claim involved the alleged kidnapping of former employee Capricorn Clark, who was reportedly taken to a building and subjected to a lie detector test over missing jewelry. Another dismissed allegation involved singer Cassie, who was said to have been forcibly detained at the London Hotel. Prosecutors have now acknowledged they lacked enough evidence to pursue these charges further.
Another allegation now off the table is the explosive claim that Diddy attempted to orchestrate the arson of rapper Kid Cudi’s car in a jealous rage. During the trial, no direct evidence surfaced linking the music executive to the incident.
While prosecutors have narrowed the scope of their case, they are not abandoning the core sex trafficking allegations. However, the revised charges no longer include the “aiding and abetting” component, and it’s unclear which specific aspects will now be considered by the jury.
In the same filing, prosecutors asked the court to clarify jury instructions, emphasizing that prior sexual consent does not imply ongoing consent and that compensation does not negate the presence of forced labor. They also noted that coercion under U.S. sex trafficking laws does not require physical restraint or a direct commercial exchange.
The case continues to grip public attention, with closing arguments expected to shed more light on the legal strategy both sides will adopt in the final stretch.
