Prosecutors within the Sean “Diddy” Combs intercourse trafficking and racketeering trial indicated they’re not pursuing a number of allegations in opposition to the music mogul, together with tried arson and tried kidnapping.
In a letter to the decide, the federal government mentioned the theories of aiding and abetting intercourse trafficking will even not be pursued.
“The Authorities is not planning to proceed on these theories of legal responsibility, so directions are not obligatory,” prosecutors wrote in a letter to Choose Arun Subramanian.
“Particularly, the Authorities has eliminated directions from the cost referring to (i) tried kidnapping beneath each California and New York regulation, (ii) tried arson beneath California regulation, and (iii) aiding and abetting intercourse trafficking. The Authorities is not planning to proceed on these theories of legal responsibility so directions are not obligatory,” the letter learn.
Attorneys are assembly with Subramanian on Wednesday to debate additional jury directions.
The prosecution’s newest transfer comes after Combs’ attorneys made arguments to toss out the costs, arguing they weren’t confirmed. The decide mentioned he’ll rule at a later date.
Prosecutors have known as 34 witnesses to attempt to show intercourse trafficking and racketeering conspiracy expenses that resulted in Combs’ September arrest, together with two ex-girlfriends of Combs who testified they felt coerced into marathon intercourse occasions with male intercourse employees that had been known as “freak-offs” or “resort nights.”
Defence attorneys, although, say they had been consensual sexual encounters in step with the swingers way of life.
The tried arson cost stemmed from Child Cudi’s testimony, after he alleged that Combs broke into his residence after studying about his relationship with Combs’ ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura.
In January 2012, Child Cudi, whose actual identify is Scott Mescudi, mentioned that his canine watcher known as him from his home to let him know that his automobile was on hearth. He mentioned he was at his ex-girlfriend’s sister’s home about 45 minutes away.
Get day by day Nationwide information
Get the day’s high information, political, financial, and present affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox as soon as a day.
His buddy despatched him pictures of his broken automobile in his driveway and people pictures had been proven to the jury.
Mescudi described the picture as “the harm of the Molotov cocktail in my Porsche.”
“It appears to be like like the highest of my Porsche was minimize open, and that’s the place the Molotov cocktail was put in,” he added.
He mentioned regulation enforcement discovered a Molotov cocktail in his driver’s seat however as soon as he arrived again residence, it was “type of simply wiped out.”
When Mescudi was requested about his response to the hearth, he mentioned, “what the f—.”
After his automobile was allegedly set on hearth, Mescudi requested to fulfill with Combs. When requested in courtroom why he needed to fulfill with him, the rapper responded that he reached out as a result of he claimed he knew Combs was in some way concerned within the hearth.
Combs’ lawyer objected to Mescudi’s hypothesis, and his reply was struck from the report. Combs has not been confirmed answerable for the automobile hearth, and his involvement in any approach has not been confirmed.
Finally, nobody was charged with arson within the incident.
Combs, 55, has pleaded not responsible and has remained incarcerated with out bail in a federal lockup in Brooklyn after a number of judges concluded final fall that he was a hazard to the neighborhood.
It’s commonplace observe at federal legal trials for the decide to instantly query the defendant concerning the resolution to testify or not, partially to make sure that the defendant is aware of it’s his resolution, no matter what his attorneys have advised him.
When it got here time for Subramanian to query Combs after prosecutors rested, the decide requested him how he’s doing.
“I’m doing nice, your honour,” the Unhealthy Boy Leisure founder answered, earlier than volunteering a praise to the decide earlier than one other query may very well be posed.
“I need to let you know thanks, you’re doing a superb job,” Combs mentioned.
Combs mentioned he “totally” mentioned the matter along with his attorneys earlier than deciding to not testify.
“That’s my resolution, your honour,” Combs mentioned, including: “That’s solely my resolution.”
Prodded by the decide, he clarified additional: “I imply, it’s my resolution with my attorneys. … My resolution to make. I’m making it.”
Closing arguments had been tentatively scheduled for Thursday.
—With recordsdata from The Related Press
© 2025 World Information, a division of Corus Leisure Inc.
