As closing arguments are set to begin today in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ high-profile federal trial, prosecutors have moved to ditch several claims to “streamline” jury instructions, according to a letter submitted to Judge Arun Subramanian on Wednesday (June 25).
Diddy was initially indicted last year on five counts, including sex trafficking, racketeering, kidnapping, and transportation to engage in prostitution. However, the prosecution is withdrawing some of its criminal allegations related to kidnapping, attempted arson, or aiding and abetting sex trafficking.
The move appears to signal that federal prosecutors were unable to substantiate key allegations, including claims that Diddy kidnapped singer Cassie or his former assistant Capricorn Clark, or that he was connected to the 2011 arson that destroyed rapper Kid Cudi’s Porsche.
Legal journalist Meghann Cuniff weighed in on the developments, calling the case “a joke” compared to other federal RICO trials she’s covered. Posting on X, Cuniff said she gives the outcome a “50/50” chance of going either way.
“This case does not appear to have panned out the way prosecutors hoped it would when they read Cassie’s lawsuit,” she added. “Doesn’t mean he won’t be convicted, but more than any other trial, I do think he has a serious chance of a not guilty—especially on the RICO charge. Hard to say though.”
Cuniff also commented on the unusual timing of the prosecution ditching their previous allegations.
“Prosecutors narrow cases all the time—including during trial—but it’s usually because they’ve streamlined the evidence,” she noted. “They don’t typically present all the evidence and then say, ‘Let’s just forget about it.’”
With closing arguments now underway, the outcome of the trial remains uncertain, though the prosecution’s narrowed scope may be a sign that their case hasn’t landed as forcefully as initially anticipated.
Source: X
