Tuesday, July 9, 2024

Court Grants Extension for Prosecutors in Young Thug Judge Recusal Dispute

The trial of rapper Young Thug has been further delayed after prosecutors requested more time to respond to a defense motion to remove the presiding judge. The defense motion seeks to remove Fulton County Superior Court Judge Ural Glanville from the case due to allegations of bias or misconduct.

The court has granted a 48-hour extension due to an unexpected medical emergency, pushing the deadline from 5 p.m. on Monday to 5 p.m. on Wednesday.
Last week, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Rachel Krause ordered the Fulton County District Attorney's Office to respond to the motion, halting the months-long trial. Before Judge Krause could issue a ruling, defendant Deamonte Kendrick filed a motion to disqualify all Fulton County Superior Court judges.

The trial saw a dramatic turn on June 7, when Kenneth Copeland, known as "Lil Woody," refused to testify, invoking his Fifth Amendment right, despite a plea bargain agreement. Copeland was subsequently found in contempt of court and detained over the weekend. The following Monday, a meeting was held in Judge Glanville's chambers to discuss the violation of the plea bargain, involving Copeland, the judge, and the prosecution.

Young Thug's attorney, Brian Steel, confronted Judge Glanville during a court break after learning about the private meeting. Steel, who did not disclose how he obtained this information, was also found in contempt of court. His sentence of 10 weekends in jail has been stayed by the Georgia Supreme Court pending appeal.
Judge Glanville has denied the recusal motion filed by Steel and co-counsel Keith Adams. However, Kendrick's attorney pursued relief from the Georgia Supreme Court, which dismissed the motion on procedural grounds, deciding that another judge should hear the recusal motions.

The trial remains stalled as these legal disputes continue to unfold. Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffery Williams, faces racketeering charges along with several co-defendants. The high-profile case has seen numerous legal maneuvers and complications, with the latest delay further prolonging the proceedings.
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Friday, July 5, 2024

Legal Woes Deepen for Combs as Sexual Assault Cases Reach Eight, 50 Cent Reacts

Sean "Diddy" Combs is facing his eighth sexual assault lawsuit since November 2023, as former porn star Adria English accuses him of grooming and coercing her into sexual activities at his parties.

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, alleges that between 2004 and 2009, the rapper and business mogul forced English to engage in sexual intercourse with party guests, consume alcohol, and take ecstasy. Combs has denied all allegations through his lawyer, Jonathan Davis.

"No matter how many lawsuits are filed, it won’t change the fact that Mr. Combs has never sexually assaulted or sex trafficked anyone. We live in a world where anyone can file a lawsuit for any reason and without any proof. Fortunately, a fair and impartial judicial process exists to find the truth, and Mr. Combs is confident he will prevail against these and other baseless claims in court,” Davis said in a statement.

English claims she was hired to attend Combs' "white parties" in 2004, initially without any expectations of sexual activities. However, by the third party, Combs, 54, she said he coerced her into having sex with guests, leveraging her past in adult entertainment.

This lawsuit follows a series of allegations against Combs, starting with R&B singer Cassie Ventura, who accused him of rape and physical abuse in November 2023. Though Combs settled that lawsuit the following day, leaked footage of him physically assaulting Ventura in 2016 sparked public outrage.

Subsequent lawsuits have been filed by other individuals, including former employees and women accusing him of sexual assault, abuse, drugging, and other acts of sexual misconduct. One woman even claimed that Combs "sex trafficked and gang raped" her as a 17-year-old in 2003. All claims have been denied by Combs, who is also named in a lawsuit involving his son, Christian "King" Combs.

Once celebrated for his successful music career and business ventures, including Bad Boy Records and Cîroc vodka, Combs has seen his reputation tarnished by these allegations. In recent weeks, New York Mayor Eric Adams demanded that Combs return the ceremonial key to the city awarded to him in September 2023. Additionally, Howard University rescinded Combs' honorary degree, discontinued a scholarship in his name, and returned a $1 million donation.

Rapper 50 Cent, real name Curtis Jackson, who has a long-standing feud with Combs, has publicly reacted to the latest lawsuit. Sharing a post from The Neighborhood Talk on Instagram, 50 Cent commented, "WHAT HAPPEN 👀 how much s*** was this fool doing? 😳LOL NAH I'm gonna need more episodes for this docu series." The post referred to his planned documentary on the allegations against Combs, developed through his G-Unit film and television company. The documentary, which has not yet announced a release date or platform, promises to delve into the numerous accusations against the music mogul.

English's lawsuit also claims that Combs forced her to have sex with celebrity jeweler Jacob Arabo, known as "Jacob the Jeweler." She alleges that besides her usual fee for attending the parties, she received an additional $1,000 after the "forced sexual intercourse" with Arabo, who is also named as a defendant.

List of Lawsuits Filed Against Sean "Diddy" Combs (November 2023 - June 2024)
  1. Cassie Ventura: (November 2023) - Allegations of rape and physical abuse. Settled out of court.
  2. Joi Dickerson-Neal: (December 2023) - Former chef alleging sexual harassment and wrongful termination.
  3. Rodney Jones Jr.: (January 2024) - Former driver alleging wrongful termination, unpaid wages, and emotional distress after witnessing alleged sexual misconduct.
  4. Jane Doe (1) vs. Christian Combs & Sean Combs: (April 2024) - Lawsuit against Diddy's son alleging sexual assault, with Diddy named as a co-defendant for alleged negligence.
  5. April Lampros: (May 2024) - Allegations of drugging and sexual assault dating back to the 1990s.
  6. Jane Doe (2): (May 2024) - Anonymous woman alleging Combs "sex trafficked and gang raped" her as a 17-year-old in 2003.
  7. Crystal McKinney: (June 2024) - Allegations of drugging and rape involving Combs and rapper French Montana.
  8. Adria English: (June 2024) - Former adult film actor alleging grooming and coercion into sexual activities at Combs' parties.
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Wednesday, July 3, 2024

B.G. Wins Court Battle: Free to Write Lyrics While Under Federal Supervision

A federal judge has rejected a request from prosecutors to prohibit rapper Christopher "B.G." Dorsey from promoting violence in his music while on supervised release, citing First Amendment concerns. However, U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan ruled that B.G. must submit copies of any new songs to the government for review before their release.

The ruling, issued Friday, is the latest development in a case that has sparked debate about an artist's right to free expression versus the government's responsibility to enforce the terms of supervised release. B.G., known for his 1990s hit "Bling Bling," came under scrutiny after performing with other rappers who have felony convictions and releasing lyrics that prosecutors said glorified violence.

In March, parole officers requested B.G.'s arrest for violating the terms of his supervised release, but he was later released on his own recognizance. Prosecutors asked Judge Morgan to impose restrictions on his lyrics, arguing they could undermine his rehabilitation.


B.G.'s attorneys argued that such restrictions would constitute an unconstitutional prior restraint on free speech. Judge Morgan agreed, stating that the condition "may be an unconstitutional prior restraint."

However, Judge Morgan acknowledged the government's concerns and ordered B.G. to submit his lyrics for review before release or promotion. If deemed inconsistent with his rehabilitation, prosecutors could request modifications to his supervised release terms.
B.G., a member of the Hot Boys rap group, was sentenced to 14 years in prison in 2012 for illegal gun possession and other charges. He was released to a halfway house in fall 2023 and began a two-year period of federal supervision on Feb. 1.

The case has drawn attention from other prominent artists like Megan Thee Stallion and Jay-Z, who have condemned the use of rap lyrics as evidence in criminal cases. B.G.'s attorneys expressed satisfaction with the ruling, emphasizing it allows him to continue his artistic work while addressing the terms of his supervision.
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