Sean “Diddy” Combs is facing significant legal challenges as one of his attorneys, Anthony Ricco, has withdrawn from his defense team ahead of an upcoming sex trafficking trial. Ricco’s departure was formalized with a motion filed in New York, where he cited reasons protected by attorney-client privilege for stepping down, though he assured that his previous representation had met the expected standards.
Despite Ricco’s exit, lead counsel Marc Agnifilo has indicated that this change will not affect the trial schedule, which is set for May. The case against Combs stems from allegations brought forth following a lawsuit by Cassie Ventura in 2023, accusing him of sexual abuse. Combs is facing charges including racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, and transportation for prostitution.
The legal team for Combs has argued that these charges are racially motivated, suggesting that the application of the Mann Act—an early 20th-century law prohibiting the interstate transport of women for “immoral purposes”—is being unjustly applied to Combs due to his status as a prominent Black figure. They argue that the law has historically not been applied to white individuals in similar circumstances, framing the prosecution as discriminatory.
The trial follows a superseding indictment that added two more victims to the case, further complicating the legal proceedings for Combs. The defense maintains that their client is being unfairly targeted, laying the groundwork for a complex legal battle ahead.