A court date has been set in the trial against rapper and music mogul, Sean ‘P Diddy’ Combs.
During a recent hearing Judge Arun Subramanian set P Diddy’s trial date for May 5, 2025, for the charges of sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution.
According to Prosecutor Emily Johnson the court case is expected to last at least three weeks, with P Diddy’s lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, estimating his defence to span a week of that time.
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.
The three-county indictment accuses Combs of running a criminal enterprise to facilitate his exploitation of women, dating back at least 16 years. If found guilty he faces faces a mandatory minimum of 15-year prison sentence and a maximum of life behind bars.
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.
Diddy is expected to remain behind bars indefinitely, following the decline of his appeal for bail.
What Cassie Testifying Means For The Sean ‘P Diddy’ Combs Case
A motion filed on April 4, 2025 by prosecutors ahead of the upcoming federal trial has stated that a previous filing – that referred to “Victim-1” be amended to disclose the name of the previously anonymous witness.
Sources confirmed that Cassie Ventura – previously known as “Victim-1” – will take the stand using her own name, joining three others who will remain anonymous.
“She is prepared to testify under her own name,” the filing obtained by People, states. “Victim-2, Victim-3, and Victim-4 have asked that their identities not be revealed to the press or the public.”
Further filings have requested that the anonymous victims be referred to using pseudonyms to protect their anonymity and mitigate any risk of fallout if identifying details were to be revealed to the public.
“This case has already received an exceptional amount of media coverage, which will presumably only increase as trial proceeds,” the motion states. “Permitting these measures will prevent unnecessary public disclosure of the victims’ identities, and the harassment from the media and others, undue embarrassment, and other adverse consequences that would almost certainly follow if these women were forced to reveal their true names publicly at trial.”
The previously settled case between Cassie and Sean Combs preceded the criminal inquiry and has been widely acknowledged as the catalyst for the allegations that followed.
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 will likely address the new count, which according to court documents alleges that Combs “recruited, enticed, harbored, transported, provided, obtained, advertised, maintained, patronized and solicited [Victim-2], and attempted, aided and abetted, and willfully 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.”
It’s too early to tell if Ventura’s bravery in coming forward will inspire others to do the same, but if her previous case is anything to go by, she just might be the first of many.
P Diddy Celebrity Involvement: Who Else Will Be Called To Testify?
Given P Diddy’s connections in Hollywood and his notorious white parties attended by the A-list, many are questioning celebrities’ involvements or prior knowledge of the allegations. But, will any of them be called to testify in P Diddy’s case?
That remains to be confirmed.
Attorney Tony Buzbee revealed to TMZ that ‘demand letters’ had been sent out to other celebrities as part of his forthcoming civil lawsuits against Combs.
“A lot of people allowed it to go on, said nothing, didn’t intervene…All of these individuals and entities, in my view, have exposure here,” Buzbee told the outlet.
Diddy himself is expected to take the stand in his own defense during the trial as confirmed by his defense attorney to TMZ.
“I don’t know that I could keep him off the stand,” Agnifilo said. “I think he is very eager to tell his story.”
Alleged P Diddy Party Tapes
P Diddy’s famed parties have been the centre of discussion around many of the accusations made against the rapper. Now, Alec Baldwin’s brother, Daniel Baldwin, has claimed tapes from the parties are the subject of a bidding war.
Appearing on an episode of PBD Podcast, Baldwin claims Diddy “had cameras all over the place” during his parties.
“He has videos of the parties,” Daniel alleges, “What I’ve heard from friends that are attorneys — friends of mine that have represented me before — agents and so on is there’s a bidding war going on right now.”
He further claimed: “They’re driving that price up, because if you want your client and your famous actor to not be involved or famous singer to not come out, here’s the price.”
READ NEXT: What Happened Between P Diddy & Justin Bieber?
