Diddy’s lawyer quits sex trafficking case
One of the lawyers defending American music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs in his criminal sex trafficking case has officially pulled out of the legal team.
Court documents filed on Thursday revealed that attorney Anthony Ricco submitted a motion to step down from representing the embattled Bad Boy Records boss.
Ricco, who was one of the six lawyers on Diddy’s defense team, did not give a clear reason for his decision.
The filing, which was made at a federal court in Manhattan, must first be approved by a judge before his resignation becomes official.
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According to legal procedures, a judge must be satisfied that there is a valid reason before granting such a request.
In his affidavit, Ricco wrote, “Under no circumstances can I continue to effectively serve as counsel for Sean Combs.”
He urged the court to approve his withdrawal, adding that his decision was made after discussions with Diddy’s lead attorney, Marc Agnifilo.
While Ricco did not disclose why he was leaving, he suggested that his statement was brief to avoid revealing sensitive details covered by attorney-client privilege.
However, he assured the judge that his resignation would not affect the trial scheduled for May 5, as Combs still had five other lawyers handling his defense.
Diddy, 54, has been behind bars since his arrest in September, with no bail granted. The hip-hop mogul is facing a heavy legal battle, with a possible prison sentence ranging from 15 years to life if convicted of the most serious charges.
The case has taken a darker turn as at least 40 people, including men and women, have come forward with lawsuits, alleging that Combs drugged, sexually assaulted, or raped them.
Despite the overwhelming number of accusations, the rapper-turned-businessman has strongly denied all claims.
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