Federal prosecutors have dropped several high-profile charges against music mogul Sean Diddy Combs in his ongoing criminal trial in New York City.
Charges including attempted kidnapping, attempted arson, and aiding and abetting sex trafficking have been withdrawn, just a day before closing arguments were set to begin.
The development was disclosed in a letter to Judge Arun Subramanian, where prosecutors explained that the decision followed the judge’s directive to streamline jury instructions for clarity. Despite the adjustment, Diddy still faces several serious sex trafficking charges tied to a broader racketeering case.
Among the charges dropped was a claim that Diddy orchestrated the kidnapping of his former employee, Capricorn Clark, who was allegedly forced into a lie detector test over missing jewelry. Another involved singer Cassie, who was reportedly held at a hotel against her will. Additionally, prosecutors are no longer pursuing accusations that Diddy ordered the explosion of rapper Kid Cudi’s car, as no direct evidence surfaced during the trial to support the claim.
While the government has retained the core sex trafficking charges, it has opted to remove certain elements, including aiding and abetting, though it did not clarify which parts would be excluded from jury deliberations.
In the same correspondence to the court, prosecutors asked for specific jury instructions, including clarifications that prior consent to sexual acts does not preclude the possibility of later withdrawal and that payment does not negate forced labor in trafficking cases. They also urged the court to inform jurors that coercion in sex trafficking can occur without physical restraint or the exchange of commercial sex acts.
The trial continues as closing arguments are expected to proceed under the revised scope of charges.
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