Ghislaine Maxwell dangles Epstein secrets before Congress but demands immunity, advance questions, and a get-out-of-jail pass in explosive new letter. Meanwhile, Sean "Diddy" Combs claims he's the only "john" in federal prison as he begs for $50M bond after dodging life sentences. Plus: Colorado dentist James Craig's jury deliberates whether protein shake murders deserve death, while Texas shooter Billy Delgado's fake child abuse claims crumble on the stand. From Maxwell's prison demands to Diddy's celebrity entitlement, discover how the powerful try to buy their way out of justice. Some secrets come with a price, but justice isn't for sale.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
Callarogu Shark Media. Good morning, I'm Read Carter, and welcome
to Celebrity Trials on this Thursday, July thirty first. Today,
we're bringing you updates on several major cases where defendants
and convicted criminals are trying to leverage their way to
freedom through immunity deals, million dollar bonds, and courtroom testimony.
(00:27):
From Galaine Maxwell's calculated offer to spill Epstein's secrets in
exchange for immunity to Sean diddy Comb's arguing he shouldn't
be in jail for hiring mail escorts, these stories show
how the powerful try to negotiate their way out of consequences. Meanwhile,
juries are deliberating in three major trials James Craig's protein
(00:47):
shake poisoning case in Colorado, the Washington Honor killing trial,
and Billy Delgado's shocking testimony about shooting his ex wife
five times in Texas. Each case reveals different aspects of
how justice works when defendants finally face the consequences of
their actions. These stories connect around a central theme, the
(01:08):
difference between having money and power versus actually being accountable
for your crimes. Let's start with the most brazen attempt
to avoid consequences. Our top story comes from federal prison
in Florida, where Gallaine Maxwell has made Congress an offer
there already refusing testify about Jeffrey Epstein in exchange for immunity,
(01:29):
advance questions and a laundry list of other demands that
would make a Hollywood diva blush Jeffrey Epstein accomplice. Gallaine
Maxwell has offered to testify before Congress, but with major conditions,
including immunity. According to a list of her demands sent
to the House Oversight Committee by her attorneys, House Oversite
Chair James Comer subpoened Maxwell to testify next month, and
(01:53):
Maxwell's response reveals just how calculated and manipulative she remains
even from behind bars. In a letter to Representative James
Comber Tuesday, Maxwell's attorneys said they initially decided to invoke
her Fifth Amendment rights, but then offered to cooperate with
Congress if a fair and safe path forward can be established.
Think about that language. Maxwell, who was convicted of sex
(02:16):
trafficking children, wants Congress to establish a fair and safe
path for her testimony. Here are Maxwell's demands laid out
by her attorneys. Like She's negotiating a business deal rather
than facing accountability for trafficking miners a grant of formal immunity.
The interview can't happen at the correctional facility where she's
(02:37):
serving her sentence. To prepare adequately for any congressional deposition
and to ensure accuracy and fairness, we would require the
committee's questions in advance. Surprise questioning would be both inappropriate
and unproductive. The interview would be scheduled only after the
resolution of her Supreme Court petition and her forthcoming habeas petition.
(03:00):
Break down what Maxwell is really asking for here. She
wants immunity from prosecution for anything she might reveal about
Epstein's operation. She wants to be brought to Washington for
her testimony, essentially a taxpayer funded vacation from federal prison.
She wants all the questions in advance so she can
craft her answers and control the narrative. And she wants
(03:21):
to delay everything until her appeals are resolved, which could
take months or years. This isn't cooperation. This is extortion
with a legal veneer. Maxwell is essentially saying, I have
information you want about one of the biggest sex trafficking
scandals in American history. But I'm only going to share
it if you give me everything I want and promise
(03:41):
not to prosecute me for anything new I reveal. An
Oversight Committee spokeswoman on Tuesday rejected the idea of giving
Maxwell immunity. The Oversight Committee will respond to Miss Maxwell's
attorney soon, but it will not consider granting congressional immunity
for her testimony. The spokeswoman said, I don't think there
(04:01):
are many Republicans that want to give immunity to someone
that may have been sex trafficking children, Comer told CNN
last week. But Maxwell's attorneys had one more card to play. Notably,
the letter ended with a final appeal to President Donald
Trump for clemency. Of course, in the alternative, if Miss
Maxwell were to receive clemency, she would be willing and
(04:24):
eager to testify openly and honestly in public before Congress
in Washington, d C. She welcomes the opportunity to share
the truth and to dispel the many misconceptions and misstatements
that have plagued this case from the beginning. Her attorney said,
this is Maxwell's real strategy. She's not actually trying to
cooperate with Congress. She's trying to pressure President Trump into
(04:46):
pardoning her by dangling the promise of revealing Epstein's secrets.
It's a calculated political play disguised as cooperation with justice.
Maxwell is currently appealing her conviction to the Supreme Court,
arguing that a two two thousand and seven non prosecution
agreement should have protected her from federal charges. Her attorneys said,
if the demands cannot be met, Maxwell will have no
(05:08):
choice but to invoke her Fifth Amendment rights. Here's what's
particularly galling about Maxwell's demands. She's the only person who
went to prison in connection with Epstein's trafficking operation. Epstein
died in jail before trial. None of his alleged victims
or co conspirators have been charged. Maxwell is serving twenty
years for sex trafficking, and she's trying to leverage that
(05:31):
unique position to negotiate her way to freedom. Top House
Oversight Democrat Representative Robert Garcia told CNN on Tuesday that
Maxwell is not going to set whatever terms that she wants.
We do not support giving her the questions ahead of time.
He said. This bipartisan rejection of Maxwell's demands shows just
(05:53):
how outrageous her requests really are. The Trump administration has
faced increased scrutiny over its handling of files related to Epstein,
who died in jail in twenty nineteen awaiting trial on
federal sex trafficking charges. Maxwell is seen as a potential
key source of information on the disgraced financier, but she's
clearly only willing to share that information if she can
(06:14):
control the process completely. Maxwell met privately with Deputy Attorney
General Todd Blanche last week for about nine hours over
two days. What they discussed remains classified, but the timing
of her congressional demands suggests those meetings didn't go the
way she hoped. From one federal prison in Florida to
(06:34):
another in Brooklyn, where Seawan ditty Combs is making his
own bid for freedom through a fifty million dollar bond
request that reveals just how differently celebrities think about justice.
Music mogul Sean Ditty Combs is asking a judge to
free him on a fifty million dollar bond while he
awaits sentencing in October, after a jury found him not
guilty of the most serious federal charges he faced earlier
(06:57):
this month. In a court filing two ZS, Combs's lawyer
argued that conditions at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn
are dangerous, noting that others convicted of similar prostitution related
offenses were typically released before sentencing. Shawn Combs should not
be in jail for this conduct, Mark Agnafilo said, In fact,
(07:18):
he may be the only person currently in a United
States jail for being any sort of john, and certainly
the only person in jail for hiring adult male escorts
for him and his girlfriend. Let's unpack what Agnafilo is
arguing here. Combs was convicted on two counts of transportation
to engage in prostitution for flying people around the country,
including his girlfriends and male sex workers for sexual encounters.
(07:42):
His attorney is essentially arguing that rich people shouldn't go
to jail for paying for sex because regular johns don't
typically face federal prosecution. Combs, fifty five, faces up to
a decade in prison on the two convictions, though each
count carries a maximum ten year sentence. He was acquitted
of racketeering, conspiracy, and sex trafficking charges that could have
(08:05):
put him in prison for life. Immediately after he was acquitted,
on July second, Agnafilo had asked that Combs be released
on bond, but Judge Aaron Subramanian denied it, saying Combs
at the time had not met the burden of showing
by clear and convincing evidence, a lack of danger to
any person or the community. Now, Agnifilo is making a
(08:27):
different argument. In court documents, Comb's lawyers noted that he
did not profit financially from engaging in transportation for prostitution.
In fact, he may be the only person currently in
a United States jail or being any sort of john
and certainly the only person in jail for hiring adult
male escorts for him and his girlfriend when he did
(08:47):
not even have sex with the escort himself. The motion
says this argument reveals the disconnect between how celebrities view
justice and how justice actually works. Combs's lawyers are essentially
arguing that because he was paying for other people to
have sex rather than paying for sex himself, and because
he wasn't profiting from the arrangement, his crimes weren't serious
(09:10):
enough to warrant jail time. But the prosecution has insisted
that Combs remains a flight risk and a danger to
the community. The proposed bond would be secured by Comb's
Miami property, and his travel would be limited to parts
of Florida and New York for legal proceedings. Combs has
been held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn since
his arrest in September twenty twenty four. The lawyers added
(09:33):
that Diddy remains behind bars while all other parties involved,
including the sex workers, their agency, and state witnesses Jane
and Cassandra cassi Ventura, walk free as they should. This
argument shows how Combs's team is trying to frame his
prosecution as unfair because he's the only one facing consequences.
(09:55):
What's missing from Agnifilo's argument is any acknowledgment of the
pattern of behavior that led to Comb's conviction. This wasn't
just about hiring sex workers. It was about using private
jets and wealth to coordinate sexual encounters across state lines,
which is exactly what the Man Act was designed to prevent.
Combs is the latest celebrity inmate to be locked up
(10:16):
at MDC Brooklyn, joining a list that includes r Kelly, Galaine, Maxwell,
and cryptocurrency fraudster Sam Bankman. Freed. His bond request will
be decided in the coming days, but his argument that
rich Johns shouldn't be in jail reveals the entitlement that
probably contributed to his prosecution in the first place. Back
(10:37):
in a moment while Maxwell and Combs try to negotiate
their way out of federal prison. The James Craig poisoning
trial in Colorado has reached jury deliberations after two weeks
(10:58):
of devastating testimony of out a dentist who systematically murdered
his wife with poisoned protein shakes, and a Rapahoe County
jury began deliberations Tuesday afternoon in the murder trial of
James Craig, the Aurora dentist accused of poisoning his wife
Angelo with cyanide laced protein shakes while planning a new
(11:18):
life with his Texas mistress, Angela. Craig was innocent, prosecutor
Michael Morrow told jurors during Tuesday's closing arguments, describing how
Craig spent ten days systematically killing his wife. The ten
days of methodical poisoning showed both deliberation and intent to kill,
prosecutors argued. Craig faces six felony charges. In the March
(11:40):
twenty twenty three death of his wife, including first degree murder,
solicitation of tampering with physical evidence, solicitation of perjury, and
solicitation of first degree murder. The prosecution and defense rested Monday,
but Craig's attorneys did not present a defense, suggesting Angela
Craig played a role in her own death. The trial
(12:00):
revealed the horrifying details of how Craig used his medical
knowledge to torture his wife to death. Angela Craig, forty three,
died after repeated hospital visits with unexplained symptoms. Her husband
is accused of poisoning her with arsenic cyanide and tetrahydrosylene
over a ten day period in March twenty twenty three.
(12:22):
Timeline evidence showed Angela became ill after drinking smoothies made
by Craig beginning March sixth. Surveillance video captured Craig preparing
the fatal shakes in their kitchen. Internet searches on devices
seized at Craig's dental office revealed his research into murder methods,
including how many grams of pure arsenic will kill a
(12:42):
human and is arsenic detectable in autopsy Perhaps most damning
was testimony about Craig's affair with Texas dentist Karen Kin,
whom he met at a Las Vegas conference in February
twenty twenty three. Craig had texted Cain saying, the the
problem is that I might be completely in love with
you after three days and that's nuts. The two made
(13:07):
plans for Cain to visit Denver in March, with Cain
under the impression that Craig was going through a divorce.
Craig's own daughters testified against him, describing how their father
asked them to make it seem like their mother wanted
Craig to order the poisons that ultimately led to her death.
This testimony showed Craig was trying to frame Angela for
her own murder, even as she lay dying in the hospital.
(13:31):
While Craig was in jail awaiting trial, prosecutors say he
plotted to kill four people, including the lead detective investigating
his wife's death. Craig tried to convince a fellow inmate
to kill the detective for twenty thousand dollars, and allegedly
wrote letters trying to fabricate evidence that Angela was suicidal.
Craig's defense attorney suggested Angela may have taken her own life,
(13:53):
but the overwhelming evidence of premeditation and Craig's attempts to
cover up his crimes while in jail destroyed any sympathy
for the defendant. The jury is now deliberating whether this
calculated killer will spend the rest of his life in prison.
Our next update comes from Washington State, where the jury
continues deliberating in the honor killing trial of Issan and
(14:15):
Zara Ali, who are accused of attempting to murder their
seventeen year old daughter for refusing an arranged marriage. Jury
deliberations are underway in the trial of Isan Ali and
Zahara Ali, accused of attempting to kill their daughter, Fatima,
outside Timberline High School in October twenty twenty four. The
case has gripped the court room with its disturbing allegations
(14:36):
of parents who tried to strangle their own child for
dating a boy and refusing to travel to Iraq for
a forced marriage. Witnesses testified that Isan Ali punched his
daughter's boyfriend and then placed Fatima in a chokehold until
she lost consciousness. With multiple bystanders, describing how her lips
turned purple and her eyes were rolling back. The attack
(14:59):
was so violent that students and adults intervened, punching Issan
to try to free his daughter. Fatima herself testified against
her parents, describing how she ran away from home that
morning because she didn't want to travel to Iraq. Medical
testimony revealed the severe injuries from the strangulation attempt, including
air trapped outside her trachea and ongoing symptoms weeks later.
(15:22):
The defense argued that this was a family dispute that
got out of hand, but prosecutors maintained that you cannot
strangle your child to restrain them. The jury must now
decide whether these parents attempt to kill their daughter constitutes
attempted murder or was simply a cultural misunderstanding. Back in
a moment. Finally, we turned to Texas, where Billy Delgado
(15:56):
took the stand in his own defense to explain why
he shot his ex wife, Erica Torres, five times while
she was picking up their daughter. Closing arguments are expected
today in the trial of Billy Delgado, accused of shooting
his estranged wife, Erica Torres, five times on June first,
twenty twenty four, Delgado allegedly shot at Torres more than
(16:17):
a dozen times, hitting her in the abdomen as she
sat in her car, according to testimony. Torres testified on
Tuesday about the horrific attack, saying, I realized I got
shot because I felt like I couldn't breathe. I felt
like something was tying around my waist so tight. Despite
being critically wounded, Torres managed to drive toward a hospital
(16:38):
before losing consciousness and crashing her vehicle. She was hospitalized
for three hundred and sixty three days and underwent more
than twenty surgeries. I was in excruciating pain. I kept
passing out. I just did not want to die, Torres testified.
She described her relationship with Delgado as toxic, marked by
(17:00):
frequent arguments and physical confrontations where he would pull her hair,
grab her arms, or shove her when she tried to leave.
But Delgado took the stand in his own defense, describing
his background as a thirty five year old welder from
Laredo with an eleven year old son from a previous relationship.
He detailed what he called a year of domestic issues
(17:21):
with Torres, including physical altercations. He claimed she initiated. Delgado
explained his gun purchase in August twenty twenty three as
motivated by fear of retaliation from Torres's family. Most controversially,
he claimed the shooting was triggered by his daughter's allegation
that she had been abused by Torres's brother. Delgado described
(17:42):
going into a blackout state when he shot at Torres.
Here's where Delgado's story falls apart. Sergeant Kara, a twenty
six year veteran of the Laredo Police Department, testified that
a forensic investigation had been conducted, but no evidence was
found to support Delgado's claims that his daughter had been assaulted.
So Delgado's defense is that he shot his ex wife
(18:05):
five times based on unsubstantiated allegations that were apparently fabricated.
During cross examination, the prosecution played jailhouse recordings where Delgado said,
I don't regret a motherfucking thing I did, though in
court he claimed to feel remorse. Delgado declined a forty
year plea offer from the state before trial, choosing instead
(18:26):
to roll the dice with a jury. The cases expected
to go to the jury today, and if convicted, Delgado
could face life in prison for aggravated assault family violence.
What connects all of today's stories is how defendants and
convicted criminals try to manipulate the justice system when they
finally face consequences for their actions. Maxwell wants immunity and
(18:47):
advance questions before she'll share Epstein's secrets. Combs argues he's
being treated unfairly because other Johns don't go to federal prison.
Craig tried to frame his wife for her own murder
and hire hitmen from jail. The claimed cultural differences justified
attempted murder, and Delgado fabricated child abuse allegations to justify
shooting his ex wife Five times. Each case shows how
(19:10):
criminals and defendants think they can game the system through money, manipulation,
or special pleading. Maxwell believes her knowledge of Epstein's crimes
gives her leverage over Congress. Combs thinks his celebrity status
should protect him from the consequences that ordinary people face.
Craig thought his medical knowledge would let him commit the
perfect murder. The allies thought their cultural background would excuse
(19:34):
attempted honor killing. Delgado thought fake allegations would justify attempted murder.
But in each case the justice system is pushing back.
Congress rejected Maxwell's immunity demands. Combs was denied bond after
his conviction. Craig's jury is deliberating his fate despite his
manipulation attempts. The Ali jury is considering attempted murder charges
(19:58):
regardless of culture claims, and Delgado's fabricated defense appears to
be falling apart under scrutiny. These cases also show how
different defendants have vastly different resources to fight charges. Maxwell
has high powered attorneys making sophisticated legal arguments. Combs can
afford to post fifty million dollars bond and hire the
(20:20):
best defense money can buy. Craig had lawyers who tried
multiple strategies, including witness tampering. The Alis have cultural defense arguments,
but all the money and lawyers in the world can't
change the fundamental facts of what these defendants did. The
real lesson from today's stories is that justice works best
when it's applied equally, regardless of wealth, celebrity status, or
(20:42):
special circumstances. Maxwell's trafficking conviction stands despite her attempts to
leverage it for immunity. Comb's remains in jail despite his
wealth and fame. Craig faces life in prison despite his
medical degree, the Ali's face attempted murder charges despite cultural claims,
and Delgado's lies aren't protecting him from the consequences of
shooting his ex wife. That's celebrity trials for today. I'm
(21:07):
read Carter. Whether you're a socialite with Epstein's secrets, a
hip hop mogul with millions of dollars, a dentist with
medical knowledge, parents claiming cultural traditions, or a welder with
a gun, the law eventually catches up with you. Money
and manipulation might delay justice, but they can't prevent it forever.
Justice isn't always immediate, but it's absolutely riveting. See you
(21:32):
back here tomorrow for verdicts in the Craig and Ali
cases and whatever new courtroom drama America delivers. When criminals
think they're above the law, justice reminds them who's really
in charge.
Callarogu Shark Media. Good morning, I'm Read Carter, and welcome
to Celebrity Trials on this Thursday, July thirty first. Today,
we're bringing you updates on several major cases where defendants
and convicted criminals are trying to leverage their way to
freedom through immunity deals, million dollar bonds, and courtroom testimony.
(00:27):
From Galaine Maxwell's calculated offer to spill Epstein's secrets in
exchange for immunity to Sean diddy Comb's arguing he shouldn't
be in jail for hiring mail escorts, these stories show
how the powerful try to negotiate their way out of consequences. Meanwhile,
juries are deliberating in three major trials James Craig's protein
(00:47):
shake poisoning case in Colorado, the Washington Honor killing trial,
and Billy Delgado's shocking testimony about shooting his ex wife
five times in Texas. Each case reveals different aspects of
how justice works when defendants finally face the consequences of
their actions. These stories connect around a central theme, the
(01:08):
difference between having money and power versus actually being accountable
for your crimes. Let's start with the most brazen attempt
to avoid consequences. Our top story comes from federal prison
in Florida, where Gallaine Maxwell has made Congress an offer
there already refusing testify about Jeffrey Epstein in exchange for immunity,
(01:29):
advance questions and a laundry list of other demands that
would make a Hollywood diva blush Jeffrey Epstein accomplice. Gallaine
Maxwell has offered to testify before Congress, but with major conditions,
including immunity. According to a list of her demands sent
to the House Oversight Committee by her attorneys, House Oversite
Chair James Comer subpoened Maxwell to testify next month, and
(01:53):
Maxwell's response reveals just how calculated and manipulative she remains
even from behind bars. In a letter to Representative James
Comber Tuesday, Maxwell's attorneys said they initially decided to invoke
her Fifth Amendment rights, but then offered to cooperate with
Congress if a fair and safe path forward can be established.
Think about that language. Maxwell, who was convicted of sex
(02:16):
trafficking children, wants Congress to establish a fair and safe
path for her testimony. Here are Maxwell's demands laid out
by her attorneys. Like She's negotiating a business deal rather
than facing accountability for trafficking miners a grant of formal immunity.
The interview can't happen at the correctional facility where she's
(02:37):
serving her sentence. To prepare adequately for any congressional deposition
and to ensure accuracy and fairness, we would require the
committee's questions in advance. Surprise questioning would be both inappropriate
and unproductive. The interview would be scheduled only after the
resolution of her Supreme Court petition and her forthcoming habeas petition.
(03:00):
Break down what Maxwell is really asking for here. She
wants immunity from prosecution for anything she might reveal about
Epstein's operation. She wants to be brought to Washington for
her testimony, essentially a taxpayer funded vacation from federal prison.
She wants all the questions in advance so she can
craft her answers and control the narrative. And she wants
(03:21):
to delay everything until her appeals are resolved, which could
take months or years. This isn't cooperation. This is extortion
with a legal veneer. Maxwell is essentially saying, I have
information you want about one of the biggest sex trafficking
scandals in American history. But I'm only going to share
it if you give me everything I want and promise
(03:41):
not to prosecute me for anything new I reveal. An
Oversight Committee spokeswoman on Tuesday rejected the idea of giving
Maxwell immunity. The Oversight Committee will respond to Miss Maxwell's
attorney soon, but it will not consider granting congressional immunity
for her testimony. The spokeswoman said, I don't think there
(04:01):
are many Republicans that want to give immunity to someone
that may have been sex trafficking children, Comer told CNN
last week. But Maxwell's attorneys had one more card to play. Notably,
the letter ended with a final appeal to President Donald
Trump for clemency. Of course, in the alternative, if Miss
Maxwell were to receive clemency, she would be willing and
(04:24):
eager to testify openly and honestly in public before Congress
in Washington, d C. She welcomes the opportunity to share
the truth and to dispel the many misconceptions and misstatements
that have plagued this case from the beginning. Her attorney said,
this is Maxwell's real strategy. She's not actually trying to
cooperate with Congress. She's trying to pressure President Trump into
(04:46):
pardoning her by dangling the promise of revealing Epstein's secrets.
It's a calculated political play disguised as cooperation with justice.
Maxwell is currently appealing her conviction to the Supreme Court,
arguing that a two two thousand and seven non prosecution
agreement should have protected her from federal charges. Her attorneys said,
if the demands cannot be met, Maxwell will have no
(05:08):
choice but to invoke her Fifth Amendment rights. Here's what's
particularly galling about Maxwell's demands. She's the only person who
went to prison in connection with Epstein's trafficking operation. Epstein
died in jail before trial. None of his alleged victims
or co conspirators have been charged. Maxwell is serving twenty
years for sex trafficking, and she's trying to leverage that
(05:31):
unique position to negotiate her way to freedom. Top House
Oversight Democrat Representative Robert Garcia told CNN on Tuesday that
Maxwell is not going to set whatever terms that she wants.
We do not support giving her the questions ahead of time.
He said. This bipartisan rejection of Maxwell's demands shows just
(05:53):
how outrageous her requests really are. The Trump administration has
faced increased scrutiny over its handling of files related to Epstein,
who died in jail in twenty nineteen awaiting trial on
federal sex trafficking charges. Maxwell is seen as a potential
key source of information on the disgraced financier, but she's
clearly only willing to share that information if she can
(06:14):
control the process completely. Maxwell met privately with Deputy Attorney
General Todd Blanche last week for about nine hours over
two days. What they discussed remains classified, but the timing
of her congressional demands suggests those meetings didn't go the
way she hoped. From one federal prison in Florida to
(06:34):
another in Brooklyn, where Seawan ditty Combs is making his
own bid for freedom through a fifty million dollar bond
request that reveals just how differently celebrities think about justice.
Music mogul Sean Ditty Combs is asking a judge to
free him on a fifty million dollar bond while he
awaits sentencing in October, after a jury found him not
guilty of the most serious federal charges he faced earlier
(06:57):
this month. In a court filing two ZS, Combs's lawyer
argued that conditions at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn
are dangerous, noting that others convicted of similar prostitution related
offenses were typically released before sentencing. Shawn Combs should not
be in jail for this conduct, Mark Agnafilo said, In fact,
(07:18):
he may be the only person currently in a United
States jail for being any sort of john, and certainly
the only person in jail for hiring adult male escorts
for him and his girlfriend. Let's unpack what Agnafilo is
arguing here. Combs was convicted on two counts of transportation
to engage in prostitution for flying people around the country,
including his girlfriends and male sex workers for sexual encounters.
(07:42):
His attorney is essentially arguing that rich people shouldn't go
to jail for paying for sex because regular johns don't
typically face federal prosecution. Combs, fifty five, faces up to
a decade in prison on the two convictions, though each
count carries a maximum ten year sentence. He was acquitted
of racketeering, conspiracy, and sex trafficking charges that could have
(08:05):
put him in prison for life. Immediately after he was acquitted,
on July second, Agnafilo had asked that Combs be released
on bond, but Judge Aaron Subramanian denied it, saying Combs
at the time had not met the burden of showing
by clear and convincing evidence, a lack of danger to
any person or the community. Now, Agnifilo is making a
(08:27):
different argument. In court documents, Comb's lawyers noted that he
did not profit financially from engaging in transportation for prostitution.
In fact, he may be the only person currently in
a United States jail or being any sort of john
and certainly the only person in jail for hiring adult
male escorts for him and his girlfriend when he did
(08:47):
not even have sex with the escort himself. The motion
says this argument reveals the disconnect between how celebrities view
justice and how justice actually works. Combs's lawyers are essentially
arguing that because he was paying for other people to
have sex rather than paying for sex himself, and because
he wasn't profiting from the arrangement, his crimes weren't serious
(09:10):
enough to warrant jail time. But the prosecution has insisted
that Combs remains a flight risk and a danger to
the community. The proposed bond would be secured by Comb's
Miami property, and his travel would be limited to parts
of Florida and New York for legal proceedings. Combs has
been held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn since
his arrest in September twenty twenty four. The lawyers added
(09:33):
that Diddy remains behind bars while all other parties involved,
including the sex workers, their agency, and state witnesses Jane
and Cassandra cassi Ventura, walk free as they should. This
argument shows how Combs's team is trying to frame his
prosecution as unfair because he's the only one facing consequences.
(09:55):
What's missing from Agnifilo's argument is any acknowledgment of the
pattern of behavior that led to Comb's conviction. This wasn't
just about hiring sex workers. It was about using private
jets and wealth to coordinate sexual encounters across state lines,
which is exactly what the Man Act was designed to prevent.
Combs is the latest celebrity inmate to be locked up
(10:16):
at MDC Brooklyn, joining a list that includes r Kelly, Galaine, Maxwell,
and cryptocurrency fraudster Sam Bankman. Freed. His bond request will
be decided in the coming days, but his argument that
rich Johns shouldn't be in jail reveals the entitlement that
probably contributed to his prosecution in the first place. Back
(10:37):
in a moment while Maxwell and Combs try to negotiate
their way out of federal prison. The James Craig poisoning
trial in Colorado has reached jury deliberations after two weeks
(10:58):
of devastating testimony of out a dentist who systematically murdered
his wife with poisoned protein shakes, and a Rapahoe County
jury began deliberations Tuesday afternoon in the murder trial of
James Craig, the Aurora dentist accused of poisoning his wife
Angelo with cyanide laced protein shakes while planning a new
(11:18):
life with his Texas mistress, Angela. Craig was innocent, prosecutor
Michael Morrow told jurors during Tuesday's closing arguments, describing how
Craig spent ten days systematically killing his wife. The ten
days of methodical poisoning showed both deliberation and intent to kill,
prosecutors argued. Craig faces six felony charges. In the March
(11:40):
twenty twenty three death of his wife, including first degree murder,
solicitation of tampering with physical evidence, solicitation of perjury, and
solicitation of first degree murder. The prosecution and defense rested Monday,
but Craig's attorneys did not present a defense, suggesting Angela
Craig played a role in her own death. The trial
(12:00):
revealed the horrifying details of how Craig used his medical
knowledge to torture his wife to death. Angela Craig, forty three,
died after repeated hospital visits with unexplained symptoms. Her husband
is accused of poisoning her with arsenic cyanide and tetrahydrosylene
over a ten day period in March twenty twenty three.
(12:22):
Timeline evidence showed Angela became ill after drinking smoothies made
by Craig beginning March sixth. Surveillance video captured Craig preparing
the fatal shakes in their kitchen. Internet searches on devices
seized at Craig's dental office revealed his research into murder methods,
including how many grams of pure arsenic will kill a
(12:42):
human and is arsenic detectable in autopsy Perhaps most damning
was testimony about Craig's affair with Texas dentist Karen Kin,
whom he met at a Las Vegas conference in February
twenty twenty three. Craig had texted Cain saying, the the
problem is that I might be completely in love with
you after three days and that's nuts. The two made
(13:07):
plans for Cain to visit Denver in March, with Cain
under the impression that Craig was going through a divorce.
Craig's own daughters testified against him, describing how their father
asked them to make it seem like their mother wanted
Craig to order the poisons that ultimately led to her death.
This testimony showed Craig was trying to frame Angela for
her own murder, even as she lay dying in the hospital.
(13:31):
While Craig was in jail awaiting trial, prosecutors say he
plotted to kill four people, including the lead detective investigating
his wife's death. Craig tried to convince a fellow inmate
to kill the detective for twenty thousand dollars, and allegedly
wrote letters trying to fabricate evidence that Angela was suicidal.
Craig's defense attorney suggested Angela may have taken her own life,
(13:53):
but the overwhelming evidence of premeditation and Craig's attempts to
cover up his crimes while in jail destroyed any sympathy
for the defendant. The jury is now deliberating whether this
calculated killer will spend the rest of his life in prison.
Our next update comes from Washington State, where the jury
continues deliberating in the honor killing trial of Issan and
(14:15):
Zara Ali, who are accused of attempting to murder their
seventeen year old daughter for refusing an arranged marriage. Jury
deliberations are underway in the trial of Isan Ali and
Zahara Ali, accused of attempting to kill their daughter, Fatima,
outside Timberline High School in October twenty twenty four. The
case has gripped the court room with its disturbing allegations
(14:36):
of parents who tried to strangle their own child for
dating a boy and refusing to travel to Iraq for
a forced marriage. Witnesses testified that Isan Ali punched his
daughter's boyfriend and then placed Fatima in a chokehold until
she lost consciousness. With multiple bystanders, describing how her lips
turned purple and her eyes were rolling back. The attack
(14:59):
was so violent that students and adults intervened, punching Issan
to try to free his daughter. Fatima herself testified against
her parents, describing how she ran away from home that
morning because she didn't want to travel to Iraq. Medical
testimony revealed the severe injuries from the strangulation attempt, including
air trapped outside her trachea and ongoing symptoms weeks later.
(15:22):
The defense argued that this was a family dispute that
got out of hand, but prosecutors maintained that you cannot
strangle your child to restrain them. The jury must now
decide whether these parents attempt to kill their daughter constitutes
attempted murder or was simply a cultural misunderstanding. Back in
a moment. Finally, we turned to Texas, where Billy Delgado
(15:56):
took the stand in his own defense to explain why
he shot his ex wife, Erica Torres, five times while
she was picking up their daughter. Closing arguments are expected
today in the trial of Billy Delgado, accused of shooting
his estranged wife, Erica Torres, five times on June first,
twenty twenty four, Delgado allegedly shot at Torres more than
(16:17):
a dozen times, hitting her in the abdomen as she
sat in her car, according to testimony. Torres testified on
Tuesday about the horrific attack, saying, I realized I got
shot because I felt like I couldn't breathe. I felt
like something was tying around my waist so tight. Despite
being critically wounded, Torres managed to drive toward a hospital
(16:38):
before losing consciousness and crashing her vehicle. She was hospitalized
for three hundred and sixty three days and underwent more
than twenty surgeries. I was in excruciating pain. I kept
passing out. I just did not want to die, Torres testified.
She described her relationship with Delgado as toxic, marked by
(17:00):
frequent arguments and physical confrontations where he would pull her hair,
grab her arms, or shove her when she tried to leave.
But Delgado took the stand in his own defense, describing
his background as a thirty five year old welder from
Laredo with an eleven year old son from a previous relationship.
He detailed what he called a year of domestic issues
(17:21):
with Torres, including physical altercations. He claimed she initiated. Delgado
explained his gun purchase in August twenty twenty three as
motivated by fear of retaliation from Torres's family. Most controversially,
he claimed the shooting was triggered by his daughter's allegation
that she had been abused by Torres's brother. Delgado described
(17:42):
going into a blackout state when he shot at Torres.
Here's where Delgado's story falls apart. Sergeant Kara, a twenty
six year veteran of the Laredo Police Department, testified that
a forensic investigation had been conducted, but no evidence was
found to support Delgado's claims that his daughter had been assaulted.
So Delgado's defense is that he shot his ex wife
(18:05):
five times based on unsubstantiated allegations that were apparently fabricated.
During cross examination, the prosecution played jailhouse recordings where Delgado said,
I don't regret a motherfucking thing I did, though in
court he claimed to feel remorse. Delgado declined a forty
year plea offer from the state before trial, choosing instead
(18:26):
to roll the dice with a jury. The cases expected
to go to the jury today, and if convicted, Delgado
could face life in prison for aggravated assault family violence.
What connects all of today's stories is how defendants and
convicted criminals try to manipulate the justice system when they
finally face consequences for their actions. Maxwell wants immunity and
(18:47):
advance questions before she'll share Epstein's secrets. Combs argues he's
being treated unfairly because other Johns don't go to federal prison.
Craig tried to frame his wife for her own murder
and hire hitmen from jail. The claimed cultural differences justified
attempted murder, and Delgado fabricated child abuse allegations to justify
shooting his ex wife Five times. Each case shows how
(19:10):
criminals and defendants think they can game the system through money, manipulation,
or special pleading. Maxwell believes her knowledge of Epstein's crimes
gives her leverage over Congress. Combs thinks his celebrity status
should protect him from the consequences that ordinary people face.
Craig thought his medical knowledge would let him commit the
perfect murder. The allies thought their cultural background would excuse
(19:34):
attempted honor killing. Delgado thought fake allegations would justify attempted murder.
But in each case the justice system is pushing back.
Congress rejected Maxwell's immunity demands. Combs was denied bond after
his conviction. Craig's jury is deliberating his fate despite his
manipulation attempts. The Ali jury is considering attempted murder charges
(19:58):
regardless of culture claims, and Delgado's fabricated defense appears to
be falling apart under scrutiny. These cases also show how
different defendants have vastly different resources to fight charges. Maxwell
has high powered attorneys making sophisticated legal arguments. Combs can
afford to post fifty million dollars bond and hire the
(20:20):
best defense money can buy. Craig had lawyers who tried
multiple strategies, including witness tampering. The Alis have cultural defense arguments,
but all the money and lawyers in the world can't
change the fundamental facts of what these defendants did. The
real lesson from today's stories is that justice works best
when it's applied equally, regardless of wealth, celebrity status, or
(20:42):
special circumstances. Maxwell's trafficking conviction stands despite her attempts to
leverage it for immunity. Comb's remains in jail despite his
wealth and fame. Craig faces life in prison despite his
medical degree, the Ali's face attempted murder charges despite cultural claims,
and Delgado's lies aren't protecting him from the consequences of
shooting his ex wife. That's celebrity trials for today. I'm
(21:07):
read Carter. Whether you're a socialite with Epstein's secrets, a
hip hop mogul with millions of dollars, a dentist with
medical knowledge, parents claiming cultural traditions, or a welder with
a gun, the law eventually catches up with you. Money
and manipulation might delay justice, but they can't prevent it forever.
Justice isn't always immediate, but it's absolutely riveting. See you
(21:32):
back here tomorrow for verdicts in the Craig and Ali
cases and whatever new courtroom drama America delivers. When criminals
think they're above the law, justice reminds them who's really
in charge.
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