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Federal prosecutors dropped some charges against Sean “Diddy” Combs in an unforeseen turn, leaving enraged citizens blaming the feds for their careless slip-up. Six weeks ago, the long-awaited trial against disgraced rapper Diddy commenced in New York City, as the feds hit him with multiple charges, including sex trafficking, fraud, coercion, transportation to engage in prostitution, and racketeering conspiracy, all awaiting the court’s verdict. The racketeering charges included vices like drugging, kidnapping, arson, and coercing women into sexual activities using firearms or threats of violence. Additionally, the rapper faces several personal lawsuits against him filed by past employees and romantic partners alike.
In the past months, several of these personal lawsuits against him have been dismissed on various grounds. Additionally, the court dismissed one federal lawsuit in April, as the plaintiff in question failed to reveal her identity, simply describing herself as a New York Woman in the filings. After attaining several minute breakthroughs in the case, Diddy’s legal team snagged a major one this week, as the feds dropped even more charges ahead of the trial’s closing arguments on Thursday.
Prosecutors Drop Several Charges Amid Diddy Trial
During his court appearance on Tuesday, both prosecutors and Diddy’s defense teams wrapped up their respective cases following a six-week-long trial. In a surprising turn, Diddy’s defense team failed to present new witnesses during this final run and instead presented evidence of inconsistencies in statements made during the trial. They implored the judge to toss out the case on the grounds that the federal prosecutors had failed to successfully prove any of the charges against Diddy, which he had vehemently denied.
Seemingly confirming the claims by Diddy’s teams that the feds lacked sufficient evidence to prosecute, prosecutors on Wednesday moved to drop some of the charges against him. In a letter penned to presiding Judge Arun Subramanian, prosecutors indicated their intention to desist from pursuing charges related to attempted kidnapping, attempted arson, and aiding and abetting sex trafficking. They attributed this decision to the need to meet “the court’s desire for streamlined instructions.”
However, netizens, enraged by this development, have since ruled it an embarrassing fumble on the prosecutors’ part. They believe that while the feds had a strong case against Diddy after raiding his homes in Los Angeles and Miami before his arrest last September, and discovering tons of evidence including firearms and baby oils, they failed to build the case into a fireproof one before the trial, givng Diddy’s defense team a loophole to swoop in. Deeming this outcome an embarrassing one, many took to Reddit to voice their grievances and fears as the chances of Diddy walking free became more likely. One Reddit user noted,
“[It] would be the biggest fumble on the prosecutor’s part.”
Another raged,
“They never had anything on this evil f–k in the first place. I don’t think it’s because of his wealth or snitching, I think this was all a dumb ass media circus. They had nothing and jumped too hastily and ruined their case.”
Some Redditors suggested this breakthrough for Diddy only went to prove he had dirt on some rich and powerful people, and probably blackmailed them into pulling some strings. One Reddit user pointed out,
“If he gets away, it’ll be more than being rich. He gotta be blackmailing the right people.”
However, another clarified,
“He is still facing serious charges. And faces more, even if somehow he is found innocent in the main trial. The prosecution definitely fucked up allowing this to happen.”
What Does Dropped Charges Mean for Diddy’s Trial
Notably, while news of the feds’ move to drop trial charges against Diddy has since permeated the media, former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani clarified that “there are no charges being dropped.” Explaining the situation, he pointed out that while the prosecution’s legal theories remain the same, the government simply chose to streamline the case and desist from pursuing those related to attempted kidnapping and attempted arson as “predicate acts for racketeering.” However, this does not prevent them from arguing that Diddy completed the kidnapping of Cassie Ventura and Capricon Clark.
The completed arson on Kid Cudi’s vehicle also remains on the cards as a RICO act, making that too a solid case against him. As for aiding and abetting sex trafficking, Rahmani clarified that the dropped charges only affected the argument that he aided and abetted others to do so, but in no way affected their charges of his direct involvement in the crime. Both parties would present their closing arguments before the judge on Thursday and Friday, leaving the jurors to deliberate on a final verdict after a six-week-long Diddy trial.
