The federal trial of disgraced music mogul Sean ‘P Diddy‘ Combs has officially begun – and it’s already shaping up to be one of the most closely watched celebrity court cases of the year.
Combs, the hip-hop and business heavyweight whose decades-long career once symbolised the heights of cultural power, is now facing a string of deeply serious charges. From sex trafficking and racketeering to transportation to engage in prostitution, the indictment sent shock waves through the entertainment industry and triggered renewed scrutiny over longstanding abuse allegations.
The first week of the federal trial began on Monday 5, 2025 (US time), and has currently undergone two days of testimony, including accounts from the prosecutors’ key witness, Cassie Ventura.
As federal courtrooms don’t allow electronic recordings inside, details of the ongoing case will be relayed through courtroom reporters and sketch artists, whose invaluable work will form the basis for the public’s understanding of the trial as it progresses. This also means, that unlike past high profile cases, the Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs federal trial won’t be broadcast to the public.
The accused, 55, has been held in the Metropolitan Detention Centre in Brooklyn, New York, where he’s been awaiting trial since his arrest on 16 September, 2024.
So what exactly lies ahead for Combs as part of the federal indictment? Below, a concise guide to everything you need to know about the charges, evidence, testimonies and more.
Who Is The Judge In Diddy’s Trail?
What Was The Plea Deal For Diddy?
How Long Will The Trial Go for?
TAKE ME TO
Who Is The Judge In Diddy’s Trail?
The federal trial against Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs will be presided over by Judge Arun Subramanian.
He was nominated to the Southern District by then-President Joe Biden in 2022, before being confirmed by the U.S. Senate in 2023.
Was There A Plea Deal?
During a pre-trial hearing in late April, the courtroom heard that Sean Combs’ team had rejected a plea deal, the terms of which have not been made public at this stage.
At the same hearing, Judge Subramanian also ruled that video evidence depicting security footage that showed Combs assaulting his then-partner Cassie Ventura, could be used during the trial.
The footage in question had previously been the subject of interrogation by Combs’ legal team, who’d sought to have the evidence omitted from the trial.
How Long Will The Diddy Trial Be?
While an official timeline has yet to be released, trials of this nature – particularly those involving multiple charges and high-profile witnesses – are expected to run for several weeks, if not months.
What Is Combs’ Charged With?
Combs is facing five federal criminal charges tied to what prosecutors describe as a “sprawling criminal enterprise” operating over more than two decades.
The indictment accuses Combs of running a criminal “enterprise” as an alleged racketeer that was responsible for coordinating what the indictment listed as “elaborate and produced sex performances.”
Prosecutors for the case note that the disturbing allegations also state that Combs used employees to “carry out, facilitate, and cover up his abuse and commercial sex” with security staff, household staff, and close associates acting as Combs’ “intermediaries”.
According to court documents, prosecutors for the Diddy trial allege that Combs used his vast influence in the music and entertainment industries to recruit, exploit and silence alleged victims who, it will argue, were coerced or manipulated into participating in “Freak Offs” involving drug use and non-consensual sexual activity.
The case is separate to the further 120 civil lawsuits expected to be laid against the Bad Boy Entertainment founder, which were announced by Texas attorney Tony Buzbee in late 2024.
Who Will Testify During The Diddy Trial?
While previous reports had mentioned several anonymous witnesses were due to take the stand, recent court documents have revealed that “Victim-1”, will be Combs’ ex, Cassie Ventura.
A motion filed on April 4, 2025 by federal prosecutors, sought an amendment to a previous filing (obtained by People) referring to a “Victim -1”. Sources have since confirmed that Cassie Ventura – previously known as “Victim-1” – will take the stand using her own name, joining three others who will remain anonymous as “Victim-2, Victim-3, and Victim-4.”
The federal indictment has been amended several times since it was first filed in September 2024. Most recently, two charges of sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution have been added to the existing indictment, along with a new count of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion.
Ventura’s testimony, which began on May 13 and is expected to last several days, will address the new count, which according to court documents, claim that Combs “recruited, enticed, harbored, transported, provided, obtained, advertised, maintained, patronized and solicited [Victim-2], and attempted, aided and abetted, and wilfully caused [Victim-2], to engage in commercial sex acts, knowing and in reckless disregard of the fact that Victim-2 was engaging in commercial sex acts as a result of force, fraud, and coercion.”
While headlines about additional celebrity involvement have been circulating – specifically in relation to Michael B. Jordan, Kid Cudi, Mike Myers and Michelle Williams – it’s not for reasons related to a potential testimony being called for. Instead, references to the A-listers are part of the jurors questionnaire, which is given to potential jury members during the selection process to determine whether they will remain as credible (impartial) members.
And while we’ve unpacked the celebrity mentions in more detail previously, there are still questions surrounding how they will be brought up once the trial begins.
What Has Diddy Said About The Charges Against Him?
Combs has consistently and repeatedly denied all allegations made against him.
In a statement released by his legal team in April, Combs’ counsel described his accusers as “former long-term girlfriends, who were involved in consensual relationships. This was their private sex life, defined by consent, not coercion.”
Combs’ attorneys also argued, at a pre-trial hearing, that the disgraced rapper thought it was “appropriate” to have multiple sexual partners. “There’s a lifestyle, call it swingers or whatever you will, that he thought was appropriate because it was common,” Combs’ lawyer Marc Agnifilo explained to the court. “Many people think it’s appropriate because it’s common,” he added.
What Happens If Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Is Found Guilty?
If Sean ‘P Diddy’ Combs is found guilty of racketeering, he faces a maximum life sentence. For the sex trafficking charges, he faces another statutory minimum sentence of 15 years, according to U.S. state law.
If Combs is found guilty for the charges relating to transportation for purposes of prostitution, then he is facing a maximum of 10 years behind bars.
Needless to say, the Diddy trial is more than just a legal reckoning, the case represents a broader cultural moment. As with the Weinstein and Epstein trials before it, Combs’ case is about power, accountability, and what happens when influence is left unchecked.
The weeks to come aren’t just about one man. They’re about exposing an entire system that enabled abuse, silenced victims, and let alleged criminal behaviour continue behind closed doors and in plain sight.
We’ll be following every update as it happens.
For a full timeline of the case and allegations leading up to this trial, explore our wider coverage at this link.
Related articles:
- The Biggest Revelations From Day One Of Diddy Trial Testimony
- Which Celebrities Will Take The Stand At P Diddy’s Trial?
- Cassie Ventura’s Testimony Reveals Devastating Scope Of Alleged Abuse
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