
Prosecutors streamline racketeering predicates
Federal prosecutors are no longer including attempted kidnapping and attempted arson as underlying crimes in the alleged racketeering conspiracy charge against Sean Combs.
Prosecutors disclosed in a letter to Judge Arun Subramanian that they would "no longer proceed on these theories" when they deliberated closing arguments, which are scheduled to begin Thursday.
Instead, prosecutors signaled that they would push sex trafficking and forced labor as primary predicate acts that the jury could find to convict Combs of racketeering conspiracy.
Defense attorneys have argued that no evidence was presented directly tying Combs to the arson that damaged rapper Kid Cudi's Porsche. Defense attorneys also argued that the alleged kidnapping of Combs' former employee, Capricorn Clark, by Combs to confront Kid Cudi was far removed from the heart of the case.
Federal prosecutors did not elaborate on their decision in their letter.
Attorneys are scheduled to meet at noon today to discuss the judge's instructions to the jury.





