Have Sean 'Diddy' Combs' trial charges been dropped? Prosecutors ditch previous claims
As a verdict nears in Sean "Diddy" Combs' criminal trial, prosecutors are no longer pursuing some of their previous claims against the embattled hip-hop mogul, although top charges remain.
In a June 24 letter to Judge Arun Subramanian, attorneys for the U.S. government revealed they are withdrawing some of their criminal allegations against Combs ahead of closing arguments in his sweeping federal sex-crimes case, according to court documents reviewed by USA TODAY.
The move was made as part of an effort to "streamline" instructions that will soon be issued to jurors as they head into deliberations. USA TODAY has reached out to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York for comment.
Prosecutors have now said they want jurors to no longer consider their claims that Combs allegedly engaged in racketeering by attempting kidnapping in California and New York, attempting arson in California and aiding and abetting sex trafficking.
However, the U.S. government's removal of the allegations doesn't amount to dropping federal charges against Combs.
The Grammy-winning rapper's indictment accused him not just of attempting arson and kidnapping, but also of committing these crimes outright, as part of a criminal conspiracy.
Combs was arrested in New York in September 2024 based on an indictment filed by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York.
Diddy trial live updates: Prosecutors drop some kidnapping, arson, sex trafficking charges
Diddy's trial charges, explained
Combs, whose Los Angeles and Miami homes were raided in March 2024 as part of a federal sex-trafficking investigation, was charged with racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution.
Federal authorities claimed Combs turned his "multi-faceted business empire" into a "criminal enterprise," in which he and his associates engaged in kidnapping, arson, physical violence, sex trafficking and forced labor, among other alleged crimes.
A superseding indictment filed April 3 — the third revised indictment following an amended indictment in January and a superseding indictment in March — charged him with two additional counts: one of sex trafficking and one of transportation to engage in prostitution.
The rapper has pleaded not guilty to the five counts against him.
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Has the Diddy trial reached a verdict?
No, a verdict has not yet been reached in Combs' criminal case.
After more than a month of harrowing testimony from several individuals in Combs' personal and professional orbit, the prosecution rested its case on June 24. In their final round of arguments, attorneys for the U.S. government zeroed in on graphic evidence from Combs' alleged "freak off" sex parties, which included video footage, text messages and financial records relating to the rapper's involvement in the elaborate sexual performances.
Meanwhile, Combs' lawyers rested their case in less than half an hour, with the defense opting not to call any witnesses to the stand. Although the music mogul's alleged abuse is at the center of the trial, Combs told the court he would not be testifying.
Closing arguments are expected to begin Thursday, June 26, and stretch into the following day.
Contributing: Patrick Ryan and Aysha Bagchi, USA TODAY
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