July 2, 2025
Jury Finds Sean “Diddy” Combs Not Guilty of Racketeering and Sex Trafficking; Convicted on Transportation for Prostitution Charges
If he was charged with domestic violence, we wouldn’t all be here having a trial because he would have pled guilty because he did that. He did not do the things he’s charged with.
Sean “Diddy” Combs’ lead defense attorney, Marc Agnifilo, in his four-hour closing argument. In his federal trial, Combs was acquitted on one count of racketeering conspiracy and two counts of sex trafficking but was convicted on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. The sentencing has not been scheduled yet, but the prosecution will seek the maximum sentence of 20 years in prison (10 years for each count). Jay Clayton, interim U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, which prosecuted the case, said in a statement: “Sex crimes deeply scar victims, and the disturbing reality is that sex crimes are all too present in many aspects of our society. … New Yorkers and all Americans want this scourge stopped and perpetrators brought to justice.”
Learn More:
- Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ found not guilty of racketeering and sex trafficking, but convicted on lesser charges (NBC News)
- Live Updates: Sean Combs Acquitted of Sex Trafficking but Found Guilty on Lesser Charges (NYT)
USAID Programs Transition to State Department after Agency Closure
During the Trump Administration’s thorough review of thousands of programs, and over $715 billion in inflation-adjusted spending over the decades, it became apparent the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) fell well below this standard.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a Substack post regarding the official closure of the agency that was established in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy and later codified by Congress. Programs from USAID will now be taken over by the State Department. Critics are concerned about the cuts already made to the agency as well as the future of its programs. The USAID administrator from 2001 to 2006, Andrew Natsios, said, “I think the State Department’s the finest diplomatic institution in the world. However, it’s not an aid institution. That’s completely different.”
Learn More:
- Making Foreign Aid Great Again (US Secretary of State Substack)
- USAID programs now being run by State Department as agency ends operations (ABC News)
- Farewell to USAID: Reflections on the agency that President Trump dismantled (NPR)
by Kelly Dean, Based in Kentucky.
