In a letter filed on Wednesday, prosecutors informed the court they would no longer pursue claims of attempted kidnapping, attempted arson, and aiding and abetting sex trafficking under the racketeering conspiracy charge.
The move is intended to 'streamline' jury instructions, although all five federal charges against Combs, including racketeering, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution, remain. The 55-year-old music mogul has pleaded not guilty.
Initially, prosecutors accused Combs of running a criminal enterprise within his entertainment business, involving crimes such as sex trafficking, forced labour, bribery, and obstruction of justice. With the case now narrowed, the government plans to focus on forced labour and sex trafficking as the core of the racketeering charge.
The change follows arguments made Tuesday by Combs' attorney, Alexandra Shapiro, who called for a judgment of acquittal on all counts, citing insufficient evidence and weak links to her client. She specifically criticised the kidnapping and arson allegations.
One such kidnapping claim involved Capricorn Clark, a former employee, who testified she was taken to a decrepit building and subjected to lie detector tests over five days, allegedly under threat of being thrown into the East River. Shapiro argued that there was no evidence connecting Combs to the incident.
The arson allegation stemmed from rapper Kid Cudi's claim that Combs firebombed his Porsche in 2012 after discovering he had dated Cassie Ventura, Combs' then-girlfriend. Shapiro countered that the claim lacked direct evidence, noting that Kid Cudi did not witness the attack and that female DNA was found on the bottle used in the alleged Molotov cocktail.
The trial, now in its seventh week, has seen more than 30 witnesses testify for the prosecution. Key witnesses include Ventura, who described being forced into non-consensual sexual encounters and controlled through fear and drugs; 'Jane,' a pseudonym used by a former girlfriend; and 'Mia,' a former assistant. Their testimony was supported by text messages, financial records, travel logs, and video evidence.
Earlier this week, Combs' defence team announced it would rest its case without calling any witnesses, including Combs himself, a move legal experts say is not unusual. Instead, the defence introduced a series of documents and exhibits.
'They may believe the prosecution's case didn't meet the burden of proof,' said former federal prosecutor Mitchell Epner. 'And putting Diddy on the stand could open him up to damaging cross-examination.'
Lead defence attorney Marc Agnifilo has filed a motion to dismiss the case, but the judge has not yet ruled on it.
As closing arguments begin, Combs' lawyers are expected to challenge the credibility of prosecution witnesses and suggest that their testimony may be exaggerated or motivated by civil litigation.
If convicted on any count, Combs could face a lengthy prison sentence. The jury will soon begin deliberations on a case that has blended celebrity, power, and disturbing allegations of abuse inside the world of hip-hop and entertainment.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
