Diddy celebrated a significant legal triumph in a Manhattan courtroom on Tuesday, June 24. Federal prosecutors withdrew pivotal allegations in their RICO sex trafficking case against the disgraced music tycoon.
Diddy’s legal team wrapped up their argument in under 30 minutes on Tuesday and did not bring any witnesses forward. Combs informed the judge that it was “entirely my choice” not to take the stand in his defense.
Prosecutors opted to dismiss specific sex trafficking allegations, as well as charges of attempted arson and kidnapping against Combs since those claims were not substantiated in court.
All remaining allegations, including transportation for prostitution purposes, bribery, witness intimidation, and drug-related offenses will persist.
“The Government is no longer intending to advance these theories of culpability, hence instructions are unnecessary,” prosecutors communicated in a letter to Judge Arun Subramanian.
The arson claim emerged from rapper Kid Cudi’s testimony that Diddy hurled a Molotov cocktail into his Porsche sports vehicle. However, no one observed Combs launching the incendiary object, leading to the charge being dropped.
Kid Cudi also asserted that Combs forced his way into his home after discovering Cudi was involved with Combs’ ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura.
The kidnapping allegation was dismissed due to the lack of credibility in the testimony of Combs’ former assistant, Capricorn Clark.
Prosecutors acknowledged they lack sufficient evidence for the kidnapping, arson, and several of the sex trafficking allegations.
Sex trafficking was the focal point of the government’s case against Combs. Yet, most of the witnesses – including Cassie herself – failed to display reliability on the witness stand.
The government did not demonstrate that any male escorts were compelled to engage in sexual acts with Cassie against their will. Cassie also could not establish that she was coerced into prostitution.
Combs’ attorneys proved that she arranged for the male escorts herself and compensated them with cash for their services.