Sean "Diddy" Combs' legal team suffered a sudden shakeup on Friday as one of his defense attorneys withdrew from the case less than three months before his federal trial on sex trafficking and racketeering charges. Attorney Anthony Ricco filed a motion in the Southern District of New York to formally step down, stating in court documents, "Under no circumstances can I continue to effectively serve as counsel for Sean Combs, consistent with the ABA Standards for Criminal Justice."
Ricco, who joined Combs' defense in September 2024, did not provide further details on his decision, citing attorney-client privilege. However, he noted that his departure had been discussed with Combs' lead counsel, Marc Agnifilo, and assured the court that it would not impact jury selection or trial proceedings set for May.
While Ricco's sudden withdrawal has sparked speculation, sources close to Combs downplayed the significance of the move. A source told TMZ, "The rules of professional conduct require him to say things that might sound dramatic, and unlike the way people normally speak. There's no crisis." The source added that Combs' primary defense team, consisting of Agnifilo and Teny Geragos, remains intact.
Combs, once one of the most influential figures in the music industry, is facing multiple federal charges, including sex trafficking, racketeering, and kidnapping. Prosecutors allege that he orchestrated an extensive operation involving the coercion and exploitation of women. Among the alleged victims expected to testify is his ex-girlfriend, singer Cassie Ventura, who has previously accused Combs of years of abuse.
The legal battle has intensified as Combs' attorneys seek to dismiss portions of the case, arguing that the charges are racially biased. In a filing earlier this week, his defense team targeted the prosecution's reliance on the Mann Act, a federal law originally passed in 1910 that prohibits transporting individuals across state lines for the purpose of prostitution.
"No white person has ever been the target of a remotely similar prosecution," the filing stated, arguing that the law has a history of being used to target Black men. Combs' lawyers pointed to historical cases involving boxer Jack Johnson and rock and roll legend Chuck Berry, alleging that the government's charges are rooted in racial bias.
"Combs has been singled out because he is a powerful Black man, and he is being prosecuted for conduct that regularly goes unpunished," the filing read.
Federal prosecutors, however, have maintained that the charges are based on evidence and not race. The indictment alleges that Combs ran a network that facilitated sex trafficking, manipulated victims, and used his wealth and influence to shield himself from accountability. The case is part of a broader legal reckoning for the rapper, who also faces multiple civil lawsuits from women who have accused him of sexual misconduct spanning decades.
Ricco's departure adds another layer of uncertainty to the high-profile trial, though Combs' remaining legal team insists there is no disruption in their defense strategy. Agnifilo and Geragos, both seasoned attorneys, are expected to continue leading the case.
