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Ray J returned to "TMZ Live" on Wednesday to remind everyone he's a card-carrying member of Team Diddy -- and is even disputing the 2 fed counts Puff was found guilty of!!!

The way Ray J sees it ... Diddy was entangled in consensual freak-offs and should NOT be punished by jail time.

Prosecutors are actively arguing that Diddy is an ultraviolent menace to society -- but Ray J's predicting his homie's prison release by the end of business day, where he'll charter a plane to Miami and exhale for the 4 of July weekend!!! (We learned later in the day the judge denied bail, and Diddy will remain locked up until his sentencing hearing, scheduled for October.)

Joe Tacopina is taking a victory lap at the expense of federal prosecutors ... because he's always said the racketeering and sex trafficking charges against Diddy didn't add up -- and a jury agreed.

The famous defense attorney joined us on "TMZ Live" Wednesday and ripped prosecutors for bringing what he says were trumped-up charges against Diddy.

Joe, who's been banging this drum for months now on our weekly series on Tubi, "TMZ Presents: United States V. Sean Combs: Inside the Diddy Trial," says the evidence and testimony never pointed towards racketeering or sex trafficking.

Cassie's worried about what Diddy might do to her if the judge lets him out on bail prior to his sentencing ... and, she's asking the judge to make sure she never finds out.

The singer-songwriter submitted a letter to the court Wednesday requesting the judge not allow Diddy to head back into the world before he's sentenced for his conviction on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.

Cassie and her attorney, Douglas Wigdor, say Diddy is "likely to pose a danger to the victims who testified in this case" -- including Cassie herself.

Nancy Grace says Sean "Diddy" Combs is getting off easy for one major reason -- the cross-examination of Cassie Ventura and "Jane" ... but she's absolutely disgusted and "shattered" by the jury's decision to acquit him of sex trafficking.

Make no mistake, Nancy firmly believes jurors in Diddy's federal trial got it wrong, and they should've convicted him on all 5 counts -- not just the 2 counts of prostitution -- but she acknowledges Diddy's lawyers did their jobs when they showed both of his exes frequently consented to freak-offs.

What's enraging to Nancy is that she sees the verdict as another case of "rich man's justice," ... saying Diddy only got off because he can afford high-powered attorneys, and because jurors frequently hesitate to convict famous people.

Okay, this one has us scratching our heads 🤔 ... Who'd You Rather: Kylie Jenner and Kim Kardashian are both shining bright in silver, but which sparkly sister is making more of a statement?!

The silver lining is, they're both stunning BUT only one sister is comin' out on top of this battle ...

 VOTE NOW!

Charlize Theron’s not exactly knitting sweaters as she nears 50 -- nope, she’s out there keeping things spicy and showing the young ones how it's really done ... 'cause age ain't nothing but a number, darling!

The Oscar-winner hit up 'Call Her Daddy' and dropped a gem -- the 49-year-old's only had about three one-night stands in her life, but the last one? "Really f***ing amazing" … and the guy was just 26.

Yup, Charlize was practically radiating as she spilled the tea -- admitting she'd never pulled a move like that before, but it was chef’s kiss.

Diddy's son Christian "King" Combs was bursting with energy after learning his dad was acquitted of racketeering and sex trafficking charges, and burned off his excitement with a round of push-ups!!!

KC was spotted a couple blocks away from the courtroom after the verdict on Wednesday, and you can see him beaming with enthusiasm as he thanked fans for their thoughts and prayers.

You can also hear the sounds of his recently released joint EP with Kanye West, "Never Stop" ... a project that has new meaning now that Diddy could be coming home soon if he's granted bail.

Prosecutors are vehemently opposed to letting Diddy out on bond ... they say his convictions for the Mann Act make him a violent criminal.

The feds just fired off a letter to Judge Arun Subramanian outlining the reasons why they say he should remain in custody pending sentencing for his conviction on two counts of transportation of prostitutes across state lines.

In the docs, obtained by TMZ, prosecutors say Diddy is trying to use the Bail Reform Act to get released on bail pending sentencing ... but they say detention is mandatory for Diddy based on the crimes for which he was found guilty.

Bryan Kohberger appeared in court to make his controversial plea deal legal in the eyes of the law ... admitting guilt to four murders -- and, the judge has signed off on the plea.

The judge began proceedings Wednesday by asking for people in the courtroom not to be disruptive ... and, he chastised the public for calling his office to dispute the plea deal. He said he hasn't read or listened to any of the messages left at his office.

Kohberger stood up in the courtroom and was sworn in by the clerk, and said "yes" when asked if he's pleading guilty because he's actually guilty and not just to avoid the death penalty.

The Diddy case started with prosecutors claiming he was a racketeer and sex trafficker who was blowing up cars and distributing drugs ... but now it's been reduced to transporting prostitutes across state lines -- and his team says that's not enough to keep him locked up before sentencing.

Diddy's legal team just fired off a letter to Judge Arun Subramanian outlining the reasons why they say he should be released from federal custody.

In the docs, obtained by TMZ, Diddy's defense says the jury "unambiguously rejected the government's allegations that Mr. Combs ran a years-long criminal enterprise or engaged in sex trafficking -- the core of the government's case."

Diddy had a message for his family after skating on the most serious charges in his criminal trial ... "I'm coming home."

After the not guilty verdicts for racketeering and sex trafficking were read in court Wednesday, Diddy turned around in his seat and nodded to his family and told them he would see them soon.

Diddy's mom, Janice Combs, was seated behind him in the gallery ... along with his three daughters and his sons Christian, Justin and Quincy ... plus Dana Tran, the mother of his youngest child, and a bunch of extended family members.

Can you guess which hot Hollywood mom put her rockin' bod on full display in this eye-popping shot?! Here are a few clues:

This YouTuber is from Ontario, Canada ... "Perfect Match" and "Love Is Blind" are just a couple of reality TV shows she's blasted her beautiful looks on ... She welcomed her twin babies with Jesse last year.

Diddy's team is preparing for his possible release by ramping up security at his Miami estate, where he would return if he's allowed out while awaiting sentencing … TMZ has learned.

Multiple sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ … within the last couple of hours, the music mogul's team began making arrangements for his potential return -- including increased security measures at his waterfront estate on the exclusive, guard-gated Star Island.

We’re told security has been beefed up both at his property and at the entrance to the island, as media and paparazzi have already started swarming the area in anticipation of his release.

Ally Lewber is officially back in the dating game, 'cause she has a new man in her life -- months after her split from James Kennedy ... TMZ has learned.

Sources familiar with the situation tell TMZ ... the former "Vanderpump Rules" star is dating a new guy following her January split from James. Our sources tell us Ally and her new boo have been dating for about four months, and the relationship has recently gotten more serious.

We're told the guy is based in New York, and the two were introduced through mutual friends. While Ally's kept the romance out of the public eye, our sources say the couple has already been traveling together -- and the new mystery man has made multiple trips to Los Angeles to visit her.

Billy Ray Cyrus is officially lassoed -- he’s head-over-boots for his GF Elizabeth Hurley and makin' damn sure the whole world hears it!

Check out this IG pic ... Elizabeth turned heads in a sizzling low-cut swimsuit while cruising on a boat -- and while fans were drooling, Billy wasted zero time calling her his "one of a kind young lady."

Elizabeth had Billy on the brain too when she dropped the pic -- she captioned it with lyrics from "Over the Rainbow." Totally fitting, since there’s an actual rainbow over her head and it just so happens to be the couple’s song.

2:40 PM PT -- The family of Kaylee Goncalves has now turned its ire toward the judge in the case, who accepted Bryan Kohberger's plea deal -- despite some of the victims' families being staunchly against it.

The family said in a statement to TMZ ... "The plea started off with a Judge who was angry about people reaching out to him and then went further to stand on his soapbox stating nothing affects his decisions in this case or any other case and he has not and will not read any comments. Maybe that wasn’t the best way to start a plea involving the murder of 4 Idaho college students. Our hope is that the Judge might reflect back on his decisions today and take the high road next time and not make the plea of a murderer about him and his decisions."

Accused quadruple-murderer Kohberger is set to formally accept a highly controversial plea deal to avoid the death penalty in Idaho ... and one victim's family just completely pulverized the county prosecutor for "cutting a deal with the devil."

The family of Kaylee posted a scathing statement to Facebook mere hours before the plea hearing was to begin ... blasting Latah County Prosecuting Attorney Bill Thompson for allowing Kohberger to plead guilty to four counts of first-degree murder ... in exchange for prosecutors taking the death penalty off the table and recommending life without the possibility of parole.

The lengthy statement reads in part ... "Cowardly men, gutless men, they scatter like roaches when the battle closes in. And Thompson? He’s retiring on this deal, his shadow slithering toward the exit, leaving only the stench of his betrayal."