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Federal Prosecutors Drop Several Key Charges Against Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs in Ongoing Sex Trafficking Trial
In a significant shift ahead of closing arguments, federal prosecutors in New York have dropped multiple high-profile charges against music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs as his criminal trial on sex trafficking and racketeering charges continues.
The withdrawn allegations include attempted kidnapping, attempted arson, and aiding and abetting sex trafficking. The decision was communicated in a letter to U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian, who reportedly instructed both sides to refine and clarify the scope of charges and jury instructions.
Despite the dropped counts, Diddy still faces serious sex trafficking charges that form the backbone of the federal racketeering case against him.
Among the dismissed allegations was a dramatic claim that Diddy orchestrated the kidnapping of his former employee Capricorn Clark, allegedly involving a forced lie detector test over missing jewellery.
Prosecutors also opted to drop charges connected to an incident involving singer Cassie, who was allegedly held against her will in a hotel room. Another widely reported accusation that Diddy directed the explosion of rapper Kid Cudi’s car was also abandoned due to a lack of concrete evidence presented during the trial.
While the core sex trafficking charges remain intact, prosecutors stated they would no longer pursue some elements of the original accusations, including certain aspects of aiding and abetting, though they did not specify which details would be excluded from jury consideration.
In the same letter to the court, prosecutors requested that Judge Subramanian provide jurors with key instructions clarifying the legal definition of coercion. They emphasized that:
- Prior consent to sexual acts does not eliminate the possibility of later withdrawal;
- Payment does not invalidate forced labor claims in sex trafficking;
- Coercion can exist without physical restraint or a direct exchange of money for sex.
These instructions, prosecutors argued, are critical in helping jurors understand the complexities of trafficking law as they evaluate the remaining charges.
Closing arguments are expected to proceed under this newly adjusted scope, marking a crucial phase in a case that has attracted national attention and rocked the entertainment industry.