Feds Drop Some Explosive Allegations Against Combs

As Sean "Diddy" Combs' sex-trafficking and racketeering conspiracy trial moves towards its end, federal prosecutors have decided not to proceed with some of the more explosive allegations against him. In a letter to Judge Arun Subramanian late Tuesday, prosecutors said they would not instruct the jury to consider attempted kidnapping, attempted arson, and aiding and abetting sex trafficking as predicate (or underlying) acts of the racketeering charge, People reports. Prosecutors cited the court's desire for "streamlined" instructions to the jury.

• The racketeering conspiracy count includes six other predicate acts, including bribery, witness tampering, and the possession and distribution of drugs, Rolling Stone reports. The allegations prosecutors are no longer proceeding with are connected to the alleged kidnapping of Combs' assistant Capricorn Clark and the alleged firebombing of rapper Kid Cudi's car. He is also charged with sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution.

• Former federal prosecutor Mark Chutkow tells Rolling Stone that the move shouldn't be seen as a win for Combs "per se." Chutkow, who specialized in similar cases, believes prosecutors are trying to minimize jury confusion and avoid accusations of overreaching.
• "I see it more as the government is comfortable that its proof came in on the other racketeering predicate acts and didn't feel like it was necessary to continue to present on this," Chutkow says. "That's just something that happens in large, complex cases where you want to make sure that the jury doesn't get confused." He says prosecutors have probably realized that the "quantum of evidence" for those counts isn't as strong as it is for others.
• The prosecution and defense rested their cases on Tuesday, with the defense calling no witnesses and wrapping up its case in just 20 minutes. Closing arguments are expected on Thursday.