Prosecutors have made a startling decision the day before closing arguments in Diddy‘s federal criminal trial in New York City: they have withdrawn some of the most important material that was given during the trial, including allegations about attempted kidnapping, attempted arson, and aiding and abetting sex trafficking.
In a letter to Judge Arun Subramanian, the prosecution stated that the government is taking His Honor’s directives to “streamline” the jury instructions.
It appears that prosecutors have failed to provide evidence that Diddy abducted Cassie and Capricorn Clark, two former employees. The attempted arson allegation that Diddy blew up Kid Cudi’s car out of jealous wrath is not being pursued by prosecutors.
How do these decisions affect Diddy?
These two allegations are related to Diddy’s alleged racketeering, or RICO, offense. Prosecutors do not specify which aspects of sex trafficking they will 86 from the jury instructions in the assisting and abetting sex trafficking indictment.
Only parts of the many sex trafficking accusations, specifically assisting and abetting, are being dropped by the prosecution. In their letter, prosecutors state that they would like a directive that women (Jane and Cassie) can withdraw their consent to sexual actions even if they have already given it.
Additionally, prosecutors say jurors should be informed that a finding of forced labor (which is related to sex trafficking) “does not preclude a finding that a woman (Jane) received compensation.”
Prosecutors want jurors to understand that compulsion in sex trafficking does not need commercial sex acts or the physical confinement of the alleged victims.
