O.J. Simpson's Lawyer Speaks on Diddy's Odds in Court: 'There's Always a Chance'
O.J. Simpson's lawyer, Robert Shapiro, spoke on Sean 'Diddy' Combs' chances in court. Here's what he explained.
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Does Sean 'Diddy' Combs stand a chance at his trial? Here's what O.J. Simpson's lawyer, Robert Shapiro, said about Combs' case.
by Lauren Weiler
Published on January 22, 2025
Hip-hop mogul Sean âDiddyâ Combs heads to trial for his federal court case in May 2025. The charges against Combs include racketeering, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution. While he pleads not guilty to the charges, it seems proving his innocence might be an uphill battle. Hereâs what O.J. Simpsonâs lawyer had to say about Combsâ odds in court.
Sean âDiddyâ Combsâ legal team maintains Combsâ innocence despite the criminal and civil charges against him. Combs currently resides behind bars at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn while he awaits his trial in May 2025. In addition to the federal charges against him, he has many accusers at the state level claiming he drugged and assaulted them in the past.
O.J. Simpsonâs famous lawyer, Robert Shapiro, successfully defended Simpson from murder charges in 1994. A clip shared to The Art of Dialogueâs X account shows Shapiro answering questions regarding what he thinks of Combsâ case.
âFirst of all, I think thereâs going to be a different group of charges than what heâs facing right now,â Shapiro said. âAnytime youâre in federal court, anytime youâre not on bail, you have an uphill battle.â
The lawyer added that he believes more superseding indictments will hit Combs. However, he doesnât think itâs game over for the hip-hop mogul.
âOh, thereâs always a chance,â Shapiro added. âEvery trial, you have a chance. You go in with the presumption of innocence. But federal court, New York, youâre in custody, itâs a tough battle. Heâs got great lawyers. The system will decide. ⌠Every case in federal courts is challenging.â
Sean âDiddyâ Combs at the 2022 Billboard Music Awards | Mindy Small/FilmMagic
O.J. Simpsonâs lawyer, Robert Shapiro, noted that Sean âDiddyâ Combs might get hit with more superseding indictments. A superseding indictment amends and replaces the original indictment listing the formal charges against Combs. A grand jury usually approves a superseding indictment if thereâs additional information or evidence.
Neama Rahmani, a former federal prosecutor, told Law&Crime Network that Combsâ trial set for May 2025 will likely get pushed in the event of a superseding indictment, especially if minors are involved.
âMinors present a completely different set of circumstances,â Rahmani said, according to DailyMail.com. âWe know through his lawyers, Combs is arguing that the sexual activity happened, but it was consensual. Of course, for sex trafficking, you need one of those elements: force, thought, or coercion. Obviously, minors cannot consent to any sexual activity, so that would be a very different defense entirely.â
Sean âDiddyâ Combsâ sex parties, known as âfreak-offs,â are at the center of his court case. The prosecution had possession of nine of the freak-off tapes at the start of 2025. Combsâ attorneys want possession of the tapes, as they told federal judge Arun Subramanian that the footage shows âadults having consensual sex, plain and simple,â according to Forbes.
Attorney David Gelman discussed the tapes on The Trial of Diddy podcast. Gelman agreed that Combsâ attorneys should have access to the nine videos, as the prosecution has an âobligation to turn it overâ if itâs evidence they plan to use.
Gelman noted that Combsâ ex-girlfriend, Casandra âCassieâ Ventura, was the original holder of the tapes. This could spell trouble for her credibility. âDiddy doesnât have these videos â Diddy never had these videos,â he explained. âThey are in the possession of Cassie. It does undermine a little bit. It undermines that she is an alleged victim. ⌠If she had the videos herself, and not Diddy, that would definitely bring a red flag to the government, and that would definitely help if Iâm Diddyâs attorney.â
How to get help:Â In the U.S., call the RAINN National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 to connect with a trained staff member from a sexual assault service provider in your area.