Sean Combs could drop big names in exchange for less prison time in his federal sex crimes case, according to R. Kelly’s attorney.
Combs was arrested in New York in September and faces allegations that he assaulted multiple men, women and children.
Nicole Blank Becker, who represented R. Kelly during his trial, told Fox News Digital that the odds are stacked against Combs. She said the feds are using RICO laws typically reserved for mobsters.
The same RICO laws were used to convict R. Kelly, she added.
Blank Becker said R. Kelly’s defense team didn’t get to see the prosecution’s evidence until the day of the trial. Combs’ attorneys are likely to face the same obstacles.
Blank Becker said R. Kelly’s celebrity friends abandoned him because they didn’t want to be caught up in a federal case.
She suggested that Combs’ celebrity friends stopped taking his calls following the federal raids on his homes in March.
Combs posted a video online in which he called out the names of his A-list friends who turned their backs on him.
“What that is, and I’ve talked about this with R. Kelly, [Combs] is saying, ‘Listen, guys, none of y’all are calling me back, none of y’all are listening, none of y’all want to talk to me now, well guess what, I’m going down… but y’all are gonna go down with me,'” Blank Becker said.
She said Kelly’s inner circle consisted of lifelong non-celebrity friends whereas Combs rolled with the “best of the best” in the entertainment world.
[Combs] surrounded himself always with the best of the best. The actors who are the best actors, the elite,” Blank Becker says.
She said he might offer up big names of A-listers who participated in the notorious “freak offs” parties at his home.
“I would say that it is very possible, when [Combs] recognizes that they have as much information as they do – he may be trying to figure out, ‘Hey, I give you this info, what’s that going to do for me?’ And I wouldn’t be surprised if those types of negotiations occur and continue,” she explained.
“It’s just so fascinating to watch it, not know what it is, and then all of a sudden we can kind of put the pieces together.”
Bold name celebrities have come out in support of Vice President Kamala Harris in recent weeks. Names like Usher Raymond and Beyoncé — who rarely speak politics in public.
Sources say both Beyoncé and Usher are concerned about videos seized during the raids which may contain incriminating evidence.
The feds have said guests who attended Combs’ freak offs didn’t know they were being secretly recorded.
Homeland Security agents found 200 cameras on Combs’ properties during the raids.