As the criminal trial of music mogul Sean “P. Diddy” Combs begins in earnest, explosive allegations and disturbing testimony are painting a portrait of celebrity excess, coercion, and potential long-term incarceration. On Chicago’s Morning Answer, Dan Proft and Jeanne Ives spoke with criminal defense attorney Todd Spodek, who provided insight into the legal strategy unfolding—and the steep challenges Combs faces in court.
Combs is facing multiple civil and criminal complaints, including a new lawsuit by a woman identified as Jane Doe, who alleges a violent sexual assault occurred more than 20 years ago. Additional lurid details are surfacing daily, including testimony from longtime associate and former romantic partner Cassie Ventura, who took the stand in a dramatic cross-examination earlier this week.
A Defense Strategy Focused on Consent
Spodek, who previously represented Anna Sorokin—the infamous “fake heiress”—said Diddy’s legal team appears to be leaning heavily into a consent-based defense. While acknowledging that Combs hosted extravagant sex parties, Spodek noted that the defense is framing these events as consensual, adult experiences, albeit unconventional ones.
“There’s no question about the nature of the parties,” Spodek said. “The question is whether those attending were willing participants—or victims coerced through intimidation, power dynamics, or outright violence.”
Defense attorneys are relying on text messages and other communications to suggest that at least some witnesses, like Ventura, expressed a desire to be part of the scene, or at a minimum, didn’t object at the time.
Jury Faces Overwhelming Allegations
But as Spodek noted, the defense will struggle to contain the narrative. The sheer number of accusers—many of whom have no romantic history with Combs—will likely sway jurors. In contrast to the Weinstein trial, which leaned heavily on the so-called “casting couch” defense, prosecutors in the Combs case are reportedly in possession of video evidence showing acts of extreme violence.
“The jury will have a very hard time unseeing what they’ve seen,” Spodek said, referring to footage of Combs allegedly assaulting Ventura in a hotel hallway. “If that’s how he treated someone he loved for over a decade, imagine how he treated others.”
Legal Fallout Extending Beyond Diddy
The broader question, as raised by Ives and Proft, is how far the legal liability may stretch. A-list guests, bodyguards, and personal staff may have been complicit in some of the alleged abuse. While attending wild parties is not a crime, enabling or covering up trafficking or assault is.
Spodek believes prosecutors will continue pursuing other individuals but warned that proving complicity is difficult unless direct criminal acts or knowledge can be established. “We’ve seen this in the Epstein-Maxwell case,” he said. “Celebrity attendance doesn’t equal criminal liability unless there’s evidence they aided or abetted the underlying crimes.”
Will Diddy Cooperate?
With criminal and civil trials looming, speculation grows over whether Combs might consider cooperating with prosecutors. Spodek was clear: even if Combs turned over names, it wouldn’t be enough to save him from serious prison time.
“At this point, he’s looking at 20 years or more,” Spodek explained. “Even if he pleads out, it would only shave that down to maybe 10. That’s not a life he’s willing to accept, which is why he’s rolling the dice.”
According to Spodek, defense attorneys are obligated to advise their clients of potential plea bargains, but in Combs’ case, the strategy appears to be an all-or-nothing gamble on acquittal. “He’s betting that jurors will see this as a lifestyle choice gone awry—not a criminal enterprise.”
Civil Consequences and the End of an Empire
Even if Combs avoids criminal conviction, the civil suits—now numbering in the dozens—pose a separate and massive threat to his wealth and reputation. A conviction or even damning testimony in the criminal trial could make him vulnerable to financial ruin, regardless of a jury verdict.
“If he’s not bankrupted by the end of this, I’d be shocked,” Spodek added.
The trial is expected to continue for several weeks, with more witnesses scheduled to testify about their experiences with Combs, including insiders and associates from his inner circle. The outcome will not only determine Combs’ future, but may also pull back the curtain on a broader culture of abuse and unchecked power within the entertainment industry.
As Spodek put it, “Once you cross into transporting people across state lines for coerced sex, that’s not just Hollywood being wild—that’s criminal.”