EXCLUSIVE: Two months before the start of a sex trafficking trial that could see the much accused Sean “Diddy” Combs behind bars for the rest of his life, one of the ‘I’ll Be Missing You’ rapper’s top lawyers wants out of the case.
The request today by Anthony Ricco to Judge Arun Subramanian partially pulls the veil back on a defense team that is consumed with in-fighting and lacks focus, I’m told. “It’s become a real sh*tshow, they’re desperate to not go to trial,” a well-positioned attorney told Deadline of the Marc Agnifilo, and Teny Geragos-led Combs criminal trial defense. “Look at the filings, they’re throwing everything at the wall and praying something sticks.”
Ricco’s move Friday for permission for “withdrawal” from Diddy’s multi-claims case is thin on details and admittedly unorthodox in the way it is being conducted due to that what the lawyer cites as “protections afforded by the attorney/client privilege. However, making a point of saying he is exiting “respectfully but regrettably,” the New York-base Ricco adds: “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, consistent with the ABA Standards for Criminal Justice.”
The Bad Boy Records founder has been incarcerated at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center since his September 16 arrest. Ricco joined the pricey Marc Agnifilo, and Teny Geragos-led Combs defense team on September 22. Repeatedly failing to get released on $50 million bail, Combs is set to go to trial on racketeering, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution charges starting May 5.
Spreading the wealth so to speak, Combs sued NBCUniversal on February 12 for $100 million over what the rapper terms an “outrageous set of fresh lies and conspiracy theories” stemming from Peacock’s Diddy: Making of a Bad Boy documentary.
Just this week, mere days after a civil case accusing Combs and Jay-Z of raping a 13-year-old in 2000 was dropped by the now middle-aged Jane Doe, Combs’ defense accused the turbulent U.S. Attorney’s office of going after their client with “racist” laws because he is a powerful black man, and he is being prosecuted for conduct that regularly goes unpunished.” The once-Damian Williams run SDNY had no comment on the claim, and has not filed a response yet.
“They should be all over the prosecution and the indictment right now, instead (they’re) losing Ricco and claiming racism,” an insider says. “Not a good look, if you ask me. Not a strategy.”
Representatives for Combs did not respond to request for comment on the state of the defense team and Ricco’s reasons for leaving. Anthony Ricco also did not respond when contacted by Deadline. If they do, this post will be updated.
However, according to a source close to the matter, there is “no truth” to claims of disarray among the defense team despite Ricco’s departure. In fact, the source says Ricco leaving “does not impact Mr. Combs’s legal team, which remains intact and fully engaged.” They add that “nothing has changed,” citing Agnifilo, and Geragos running things.
Ricco’s desire to be cut loose from the Combs case still has to be approved by Judge Subramanian – which technically makes the lawyer still a member of the defense until that request is granted.
Perhaps telling of the state of affairs of Combs’ legal team, Friday also say the now Matthew Podolsky-led SDNY push back on a motion by the defense to have all the victims and more in the three claim indictment identified as just a sideshow to try to delay the trial.
“Most relevant to the instant request, on February 1, 2025, the Government provided the defendant with a 16-page Enterprise Letter, outlining in detail the racketeering activity and related conduct that the Government currently expects to prove at trial in connection with the charged racketeering conspiracy offense,” exclaims a two-page letter this morning from Donald Trump Department of Justice appointed Acting U.S. Attorney Podolsky to Judge Subramanian.
The Enterprise Letter described these acts in detail, including their approximate dates and the people involved—noting, for example, their titles at the defendant’s company or providing other identifying features,” Podolsky’s missive adds “In short, these additional disclosures undermine any claim by the defendant that he is not aware of the ‘nature of the charge pending against him;’ or is unable to adequately prepare for trial.”
“Instead, the defendant’s renewed request for a bill of particulars is merely an attempt to relitigate the pretrial schedule to get even earlier disclosure of victim and witness information. But his assertion that such information would be useful is no basis to grant his request.”
As well as the criminal case, Combs is fighting dozens and dozens of civil lawsuits claiming assaults, abuse and retaliation from individuals who say they were raped and attacked, some drugged at his so-called “freak off” parties. The overwhelming majority of those case are represented by lawyer Tony Buzbee. The Houston attorney was also the main man for the Jane Doe who said that Combs, Jay-Z and an unnamed female “Celebrity B” repeatedly raped her at the 2000 MTV VMAs. As noted, the plaintiffs pulled the plug on that case on Valentine’s Day.
