Diddy prosecutors drop Kid Cudi-related arson and kidnapping from their racketeering case
Rapper Kid Cudi may have testified at the Sean "Diddy" Combs trial for nothing.
With closing arguments a day away, federal prosecutors said Wednesday that they are narrowing their racketeering case and will no longer ask jurors to decide if Combs set fire to Kid Cudi's red Porsche in his Beverly Hills driveway in 2011.
Federal prosecutors gave no specific reason for trimming the Porsche arson and two other allegations — kidnapping and aiding and abetting sex trafficking — from the list of "racketeering activities" that Diddy is charged with conspiring in.
Prosecutors said only that they were being responsive to "the court's desire for streamlined instructions," a reference to the legal instructions the judge said he plans to give the jury Friday, following closing arguments scheduled for Thursday.
The prosecution's plans were revealed in an eight-page letter filed Wednesday morning.
Kid Cudi, given name Scott Mescudi, took the stand in May, during the second week of testimony. He described a brief 2011 romance with star prosecution witness Cassie Ventura, who was 28 at the time. Combs flew into a jealous rage over the romance, Mescudi and other witnesses said.
"Get dressed — we're going to go kill" Mescudi, a former Combs executive, Capricorn Clark, testified Combs demanded, while referring to the other artist using a racial slur. Clark said Combs was banging on her front door and waving a gun at the time.
Mescudi told jurors that he and Combs were never violent with each other directly. He testified, however, that he believed Combs broke into his house, shut his dog in the bathroom, and unwrapped his Christmas presents he intended to give his family.
Mescudi also said he believes Combs was responsible for firebombing his Porsche with a Molotov cocktail.
"What the fuck," Mescudi said with an embarrassed smile when asked by the prosecution to describe his reaction to seeing his torched car in the driveway of his Hollywood Hills house.
On cross-examination, Mescudi said he had no direct knowledge that anyone affiliated with Combs was involved with the never-solved arson.
The deep cut to the list of racketeering activities leaves the indictment listing six alleged racketeering activities.
They are bribery, tampering with witnesses, forced labor, transportation for purposes of prostitution, inducement for purposes of prostitution, and distributing and possessing narcotics.
Jurors must come to a unanimous agreement on two crimes on that list, finding that Combs and others in his music and lifestyle company, Combs Global, agreed to commit those crimes as part of a pattern of racketeering activity.
The cuts follow arguments in court on Tuesday, during which Combs' attorney Alexandra Shapiro described the weaknesses that defense lawyers see in the prosecution's case.
"The government has failed to prove the elements of the racketeering conspiracy charged in the indictment," Shapiro began. Racketeering conspiracy carries a potential maximum sentence of life in prison.
"There is, at best, thin proof that any of the other employees knowingly participated in the crimes with, or for, Mr. Combs, other than things like picking up or helping Mr. Combs procure personal use quantities of drugs for himself," she argued.
There was scant evidence showing that employees knowingly agreed with Combs to commit crimes, she said.
"Most of the testimony about the employees shows that they ran errands related to his personal life, made travel arrangements for him and his girlfriends, and the like," she said.
Shapiro then picked apart the underlying crimes, one by one, including the kidnapping, arson, and sex-trafficking crimes that prosecutors edited from the indictment Wednesday.
She said there was no direct evidence linking Combs to the arson.
"Neither Capricorn Clark nor Cassie Ventura nor Mr. Mescudi witnessed the arson or put Mr. Combs at Mr. Mescudi's residence at the relevant time," Shapiro argued.
As for sex-trafficking, there was likewise no proof that Combs' employees believed anything illegal might have been going on with Ventura and "Jane," the second sex-trafficking accuser, Shapiro argued. So there was no proof of an enterprise — or "racket" — aiding in sex trafficking, she said.
Shapiro also criticized the government's kidnapping accusations, which allege in part that Combs forced Clark, his former executive, to go to Mescudi's house to "kill" him. The defense has argued that while Combs may have had a gun, it was never pointed at Clark.
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Black America Web
3 hours ago
- Black America Web
Breaking Down The Facts, Charges, Witnesses and Alleged Victims Ahead Of Diddy's Jury Deliberations
Source: Paul Zimmerman / Getty The end of the Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial is near. The prosecution has rested after calling more than 30 witnesses, including Diddy's ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura. After settling a civil case with her ex for $20M alleging physical, psychological, and financial abuse, she testified to her experience in an abusive relationship punctuated by 'freak-offs' or nights of sexual activity with a series of sex workers while Diddy watched and masturbated. Other prosecution witnesses, including former employees Capricorn Clark and 'Mia,' a pseudonym for a former employee, and 'Jane Doe,' who also testified to what she called 'hotel nights' also with sex workers, provided that Combs was abusive in his intimate relationships and the workplace as well. The defense rested its case without calling a single witness. Despite these witnesses, is it enough to secure a conviction? Here's a breakdown of the charges, witnesses, and what's at stake for Combs and more. In the federal trial, Combs is facing one count of racketeering conspiracy, two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. If convicted, he could face up to life in prison. On Wednesday morning, prosecutors moved to drop certain charges before the jury deliberates and issued further instructions. They want to drop certain aspects of the sex trafficking case. They will also drop any kidnapping and attempted arson charges stemming from testimony from former employees, including Clark, who alleged she was kidnapped, and from rapper Kid Cudi, whose car was torched while he was dating Ventura. What has been most debated are the racketeering conspiracy or RICO charges, which are generally used against large criminal enterprises, i.e., the Mafia. Before Combs' case, Young Thug is the most recent example of a rap mogul being indicted on RICO charges. It was alleged that Young Thug, born Jeffrey Lamar Williams, was using his Young Stoner Life record label as a front to commit crimes, including murder, and co-founded Young Slime Life, described as a 'criminal street gang.' He was indicted with 27 others in the case. Ultimately, he pleaded to lesser charges, was released in 2024, and is currently under 15 years' probation, which includes a 20-year sentence reinstatement if he violates the terms of his probation. No, Combs will not testify on his behalf. He told the judge he had 'thoroughly' discussed it with his lawyers and was making his own decision. When Judge Arun Subramanian asked Combs how he was feeling, Combs told him, 'I am doing great, thank you, your honor. You are doing an excellent job.' It would have to be Ventura, as she's the most public face of Combs' abusive behavior, including what was shown in the 2016 video obtained and shared by CNN before the trial. Ventura, who had her third child with husband Alex Fine two weeks after her appearance in court, testified to having 'hundreds' of freak-offs with multiple sex workers over their 10-year relationship. The abuse allegations were first revealed in a civil lawsuit in 2023, with Ventura providing times, dates, and locations of many of the encounters. During the trial, she also testified that her mother was forced to pay Combs $20K to keep the tapes from being revealed to the public. The money was later returned. 'Jane Doe,' who also testified to being forced into what she called 'hotel nights,' but her testimony may be undermined when it was revealed that Combs is paying her legal fees and her $10,000 rent. It was also revealed that despite her issues with Combs, they remain in a relationship. What about the RICO charges? Internet commenters and social media 'reporters' seem divided on whether or not the RICO charges will stick. However, they are not at the trial, watching and listening to daily testimony in its entirety, not just in soundbites. The jury has also seen the witnesses, while the public has not, as no cameras are allowed in the federal courtroom. They would have a better handle on who was credible, which witnesses they believed, and the legalities of the case based on instructions they would receive before deliberating. If you compare the RICO charges in the Young Thug case, Williams was accused of much more serious crimes and indicted with 27 others. While witnesses have testified that Diddy's former chief of staff, Kristina Khorrum facilitated the handoff of the hotel tape to Diddy in exchange for money and made sure Diddy never ran out of baby oil, she has denied any criminal wrongdoing or knowledge of criminal wrongdoing, has not been charged and was not called as a witness. That would undermine the conspiracy part of the RICO case, as a conspiracy usually requires co-conspirators. The judge will meet with lawyers on both sides on Wednesday to go over housekeeping, including final instructions for the jury. The jury should get the case on Thursday. Judge Subramanian says he believes the trial will wrap up by the July 4th holiday, if not sooner. The jury remains at eight men and four women after a Black male juror was dismissed, and a white male replaced him. Per AP, three jurors are under 40 and five are over 60. Most of the jury have college degrees, including a scientist with a Ph.D. And four jurors are from Westchester County, a suburb of New York City. Westchester County includes Mt. Vernon, where Combs grew up. SEE ALSO Breaking Down The Facts, Charges, Witnesses and Alleged Victims Ahead Of Diddy's Jury Deliberations was originally published on
Associated Press
3 hours ago
- Associated Press
Cassie, Jane, Cudi and freak-offs: How Sean 'Diddy' Combs' sex trafficking trial has played out
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She also said Combs raped her after she said she was ending their relationship. In 2016, security cameras captured Combs hitting, kicking and dragging Cassie as she left his room at the Intercontinental Hotel in Los Angeles. The video was shown at the trial's start. A hotel guard testified that Combs paid $100,000 to hide the video. It remained secret until CNN aired it in May 2024. After the assault, Cassie texted Combs: 'I'm not a rag doll. I'm somebody's child.' Cassie first detailed her allegations in a lawsuit against Combs in 2023. He settled the next day for $20 million. Jane: 'You beat the love out of us' Jane, testifying under a pseudonym, dated Combs from 2021 until his arrest last September. The model said she repeatedly told Combs she didn't want to have sex with other men — pleading with him, 'I'm not an animal. I need a break' — but that he kept pressuring her. She said she felt 'obligated' in part because he paid her rent. Jane said she tried to end the encounters, texting him in 2023: 'Ever since I opened Pandora's box, I haven't been able to close it.' He responded: 'Girl, stop.' Another time, she told him: 'You beat the love out of us.' Last year, Jane said, Combs put her in a chokehold, punched her in the face and forced her into an encounter with a sex worker. She said he told her: 'You're not going to ruin my night like this.' Both women said Combs threatened to release their sex videos if they refused his demands. Kid Cudi and others who say Combs wronged them Rapper Kid Cudi testified that Combs broke into his home in late 2011 after learning he and Cassie were dating. His car was firebombed a few weeks later. Cudi, whose legal name is Scott Mescudi, said he knew Combs 'had something to do' with it, but Combs told him he wasn't involved. Ex-Combs employee Capricorn Clark said Combs came to her home waving a gun the day of the break-in and demanded she get dressed and go with him because 'we're going to kill Cudi.' A former personal assistant testifying under the pseudonym 'Mia' said Combs put his hand up her dress and forcibly kissed her at his 40th birthday party in 2009, forced her to perform oral sex on another occasion and raped her in 2010. His lawyers say the claims are false. Cassie's friend Bryana 'Bana' Bongolan testified that Combs dangled her over the railing of Cassie's 17th floor balcony and threw her onto patio furniture in September 2016, leaving her bruised and traumatized. Baby oil, lubricant and AR-15s Six of Combs' former personal assistants testified. George Kaplan said he'd toss out liquor bottles and drugs and clean up baby oil from Combs' hotel rooms. He said he quit after seeing Combs fighting with Cassie but didn't report it to authorities. 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Missing pieces: Gina, KK and D-Roc Originally, prosecutors built their case around four main witnesses: Cassie, Jane, Mia and Gina, a former Combs girlfriend who was referred to in his charging documents as 'Victim-3.' But Gina, who dated Combs from 2014 to 2019, was quietly dropped from the case and never testified. Still, she figured prominently in the trial. Cassie noted she was really upset when she found out Combs was cheating with Gina. Kaplan said he once saw Combs hurling apples at Gina. Others from Combs' orbit who were mentioned but not seen in court included his former chief of staff, a bodyguard and other members of his security staff.
USA Today
5 hours ago
- USA Today
Danity Kane alums Aubrey O'Day, D. Woods reunited to talk Diddy. Here's what went down.
It's a Danity Kane reunion — but pop nostalgia is not on the agenda. Singers Aubrey O'Day and D. Woods, who comprised Sean "Diddy" Combs' former girl group, reunited for O'Day's podcast "Aubrey O'Day, Covering the Diddy Trial," to reflect on their time working with the embattled hip-hop mogul. Combs, 55, has been on trial since May following his September 2024 arrest on charges of sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to engage in prostitution. "It's really triggering. It's really stomach-turning," said Woods, who has not been following coverage of the trial for "mental health and spiritual protection's sake." "Parents and loved ones may even feel a sense of guilt because (at) the time, nobody knew what we were really dealing with and what atmosphere we were really in. I think what people wanted was for us to take advantage of this opportunity" to work with Combs. Danity Kane, a pop-R&B outfit that featured O'Day and Woods alongside Dawn Richard, Shannon Bex and Aundrea Fimbres, was formed on Combs' reality competition series "Making the Band" in 2005. The group released two studio albums, 2006's "Danity Kane" and 2008's "Welcome to the Dollhouse," and scored a pair of top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100 before disbanding in 2009 (O'Day, Richard, Bex, and Fimbres reunited for a short-lived revival in 2013). Since their time in the group, O'Day and Woods have spoken out about the alleged abuse they experienced working under the Bad Boy Records founder. Woods, appearing in the Investigation Discovery docuseries "The Fall of Diddy," accused Combs of verbal abuse and making sexual advances. O'Day, who was at one point rumored to be a witness in Combs' trial, likened her professional relationship with Combs to "childhood trauma" in a June 2024 interview with People magazine. 'Fall of Diddy' doc revelations: Former assistant, Danity Kane member speak out Additionally, the women's bandmate Richard has taken legal action against Combs, suing him in September on 21 counts of sexual assault and battery, sex trafficking, gender discrimination, and copyright infringement. Richard also took the stand in Combs' trial and testified on the physical violence she reportedly witnessed from the Grammy-winning rapper. "We didn't even get questions like, 'Are you safe?' That wasn't in anyone's conversation," O'Day told Woods. "All the girls that didn't make it that were always a little salty along the way whenever we'd run into them, they'd look at us like we're so lucky. And as time moved forward, we would ... get back together (and be) like, 'Girl, you're kind of lucky you didn't make it.'" D. Woods felt 'like a piece of meat' working with Diddy While reflecting on Richard's lawsuit and its claims of sexual abuse, Woods and O'Day spoke about Combs' alleged treatment of the girl group. Woods said while she doesn't recall being sexualized by the music mogul, she alleged Combs frequently belittled the women in his remarks. "I didn't feel the sexual exchange, or maybe I just was oblivious to that because we were mad young," Woods said. "But what I did experience was the dehumanizing objectification and just really feeling like I'm just like a piece of meat, just feeling like I'm being tossed to and fro (with) no consideration of our humanity." "We're all supposed to be on the same team," Woods added. But "he really treated us like we were — like he said to us several different times — 'You are not worth the (expletive) on the bottom of my shoes.'" 10 bingeable memoirs to check out: Celebrities tell all about aging, marriage and Beyoncé Why D. Woods thinks Diddy fired her and Aubrey O'Day from Danity Kane In a series of rapid-fire questions, O'Day asked Woods about her perspective on their termination from Danity Kane. The women were fired from the group during a meeting with Combs in the 2008 finale of "Making the Band 4." "It was sexual harassment and retaliation. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it,' Woods said. When asked about her own firing, Woods said: "Because I was close to (O'Day), and it was retaliation." Woods' remarks echo her account of O'Day and Combs' relationship in "The Fall of Diddy." The singer said O'Day confided in her that Combs often sent "inappropriate" photos to her, which allegedly included "overtly pornographic" material, and that during a 2008 run-in at New York Fashion Week, Combs reportedly told O'Day she was now "hot enough" to have sex with him. Shortly after O'Day's alleged fashion week encounter, Combs called a mandatory meeting with Danity Kane, during which O'Day and Woods were fired. Woods said Combs retaliated against O'Day, in part, because she didn't "succumb to his advances." "He wanted her to feel powerless and question her worth," Woods said. "I feel like that's part of the same reason why he probably got rid of me, too." Contributing: Naledi Ushe and Jay Stahl, USA TODAY
