Sean “Diddy” Combs is losing part of his legal team as he battles a wave of legal troubles, including a federal sex trafficking and racketeering case. Attorney Anthony Ricco has filed a motion to withdraw from Combs’ defense, citing an inability to continue effectively representing the Bad Boy founder.
In a filing submitted Friday in New York Federal Court, Ricco informed the judge of his decision to step down after discussions with Combs’ lead attorney, Marc Agnifilo.
“Although I have provided Sean Combs with the high level of legal representation expected by the court, under no circumstances can I continue to effectively serve as counsel for Sean Combs,” Ricco wrote in his motion. He declined to provide specific reasons, citing attorney-client privilege.
Ricco is one of several attorneys defending the Bad Boy Records founder against mounting accusations of sexual abuse and trafficking. Combs, 54, has maintained his innocence, even as new alleged victims continue to come forward, claiming a pattern of abuse spanning decades.
In addition to the criminal case, Combs is facing at least 40 civil lawsuits, many of which allege sexual misconduct, assault, and other forms of abuse. His legal team has attempted to fight back against the federal indictment, arguing that one of the key laws being used against him—the Mann Act—has historically been applied in a racially biased manner.
The Mann Act, also known as the White-Slave Traffic Act, prohibits the transportation of individuals across state or international lines for the purpose of prostitution. In a recent filing, Combs’ attorneys claimed that the law has a history of being used to target Black men, citing past cases involving figures like boxer Jack Johnson and musician Chuck Berry.
“No other person, and certainly no white person, has ever previously been prosecuted under the White-Slave Traffic Act for hiring male escorts from another state,” the filing stated. “Combs has been singled out because he is a powerful Black man, and he is being prosecuted for conduct that regularly goes unpunished.”
While Combs’ legal team fights to dismiss the federal charges, his reputation continues to take major hits. Public scrutiny has intensified following the release of a 2016 surveillance video showing Combs physically assaulting his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, in a Los Angeles hotel. The footage, which surfaced in May, led to widespread condemnation and increased pressure on Combs amid his ongoing legal battles.
Despite Ricco’s withdrawal, Combs remains represented by five other attorneys, and his trial is still set to begin on May 5.
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