
Diddy’s defense attorney abruptly requests withdrawal from case
By Kennedy Felton (Lifestyle Correspondent/Producer), Harry Fogle (Video Editor)
- Defense attorney Anthony Ricco has abruptly requested to withdraw from Sean “Diddy” Combs’ case. This comes just weeks before Combs’ highly anticipated May trial.
- Combs faces sex trafficking and other serious charges, though his legal team has filed a motion to dismiss the sex trafficking charge, arguing it is racially motivated under the Mann Act.
- Despite Ricco’s departure, Combs’ trial remains scheduled for May 5, and he still has five other attorneys representing him.
Full Story
Sean “Diddy” Combs’ legal team is down one member. Defense attorney Anthony Ricco has abruptly requested to withdraw from the case.
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See how news outlets across the political spectrum are covering this story. Learn moreBias Summary
- One of Sean Combs' lawyers, Anthony Ricco, has filed a motion to withdraw from his sex trafficking case in the Southern District of New York federal court.
- Ricco stated that his withdrawal should not delay the trial, which is set to begin in May, and Combs will still have five other attorneys.
- Combs is currently facing multiple allegations and charges, including sex trafficking, from at least 40 plaintiffs over 16 months.
- Combs has denied the allegations, claiming selective prosecution based on historical racial biases related to the Mann Act.
- Sean "Diddy" Combs' lawyer, Anthony Ricco, filed a motion to withdraw from the case, stating, "Under no circumstances can I continue to effectively serve as counsel for Sean Combs."
- Combs is facing numerous serious charges, including racketeering and sex trafficking, as detailed in a federal indictment, with a maximum of 100 civil suits pending against him.
- A woman who accused both Combs and another rapper of sexual assault has withdrawn her lawsuit against both, indicating potential shifts in the case.
- Combs maintains his innocence and has pleaded not guilty to all charges against him.
- Anthony Ricco filed a motion to withdraw as counsel for Sean "Diddy" Combs in a federal case on Feb. 21, 2025.
- Sean Combs faces serious charges, including racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking, with his trial scheduled for May 5, 2025.
- Ricco cited sufficient reasons protected by attorney-client privilege for his withdrawal, while Combs' legal team remains intact.
- Combs could face a minimum of 15 years and up to life in prison if found guilty of the charges.
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This comes just weeks before Combs’ highly anticipated May trial. The music mogul faces sex trafficking and other serious charges stemming from multiple allegations. The trial is expected to draw significant media attention.
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According to NBC, Ricco did not provide a clear explanation for his departure. Citing attorney-client privilege, he stated in his official court filing, “Under no circumstances can I continue to effectively serve as counsel for Sean Combs.”
Ricco is renowned for his experience in both federal and state courts. He has served as lead counsel in more than 45 federal death penalty cases across the country. His career includes defending high-profile clients in cases involving terrorism, organized crime and capital offenses.
Notably, Ricco was part of the defense team in U.S. v. Usama bin Laden, a landmark 2001 case charging al-Qaida members for their roles in the organization.
Combs’ legal team files motion to dismiss charge
Combs’ legal team recently filed a motion to dismiss his sex trafficking charge, claiming it is racially motivated. His attorneys point to the Mann Act, a 1910 law originally known as the White Slave Traffic Act.
The law was intended to combat sex trafficking. However, its controversial history includes being used to target Black men, often for relationships with white women. Combs’ legal team argues that the charge reflects a continuation of this discriminatory legacy.
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Trial date remains unchanged
Despite Ricco’s departure, Combs still has five other attorneys representing him. The court must approve Ricco’s request to withdraw. However, officials confirm that the move will not delay the trial, which remains scheduled for May 5.
[KENNEDY FELTON]
SEAN “DIDDY” COMBS’ LEGAL TEAM IS DOWN ONE MEMBER… AFTER DEFENSE ATTORNEY ANTHONY RICCO ABRUPTLY REQUESTED TO WITHDRAW FROM THE CASE.
THIS COMES JUST WEEKS BEFORE combs’ HIGHLY ANTICIPATED TRIAL.. WHERE HE FACES SEX TRAFFICKING AND OTHER CHARGES STEMMING FROM MULTIPLE ALLEGATIONS.
THE TRIAL IS EXPECTED TO DRAW SIGNIFICANT MEDIA ATTENTION GIVEN COMBS’ HIGH PROFILE STATUS IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY.
ACCORDING TO N-B-C… RICCO DID NOT PROVIDE A CLEAR EXPLANATION FOR HIS REQUEST BUT SAYS QUOTE – “under no circumstances can I continue to effectively serve as counsel for Sean Combs.”
Ricco is RENOWNED FOR HIS EXPERIENCE IN BOTH FEDERAL AND STATE COURTS.. AND HAS SERVED AS LEAD COUNSEL IN MORE THAN 45 FEDERAL DEATH PENALTY CASES NATIONWIDE.
NOTABLY – HE WAS PART OF THE DEFENSE TEAM IN THE LANDMARK CASE U-S VERSUS oSAMA BIN LADEN… WHICH CHARGED accomplices of the infamous 9/11 mastermind with their participation in the al Qaeda terrorist organization.
AS WE RECENTLY REPORTED – COMBS’ LEGAL TEAM ALSO FILED A MOTION TUESDAY TO DISMISS HIS SEX TRAFFICKING CHARGE – CLAIMING THE CHARGE IS RACIALLY MOTIVATED.
THEY POINT TO THE MANN ACT – A 1910 LAW ORIGINALLY KNOWN AS THE WHITE SLAVE TRAFFIC ACT WHICH WAS INTENDED TO COMBAT SEX TRAFFICKING BUT WAS OFTEN USED TO TARGET BLACK MEN FOR RELATIONSHIPS WITH WHITE WOMEN.
DESPITE RICCO’S REQUEST FOR DEPARTURE – COMBS WILL STILL HAVE FIVE OTHER ATTORNEYS REPRESENTING HIM. THE COURT *MUST APPROVE RICCO’S REQUEST TO WITHDRAW… BUT IT WILL REPORTEDLY NOT DELAY THE TRIAL.. SCHEDULED FOR MAY 5-TH.
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Media Landscape
See how news outlets across the political spectrum are covering this story. Learn moreBias Summary
- One of Sean Combs' lawyers, Anthony Ricco, has filed a motion to withdraw from his sex trafficking case in the Southern District of New York federal court.
- Ricco stated that his withdrawal should not delay the trial, which is set to begin in May, and Combs will still have five other attorneys.
- Combs is currently facing multiple allegations and charges, including sex trafficking, from at least 40 plaintiffs over 16 months.
- Combs has denied the allegations, claiming selective prosecution based on historical racial biases related to the Mann Act.
- Sean "Diddy" Combs' lawyer, Anthony Ricco, filed a motion to withdraw from the case, stating, "Under no circumstances can I continue to effectively serve as counsel for Sean Combs."
- Combs is facing numerous serious charges, including racketeering and sex trafficking, as detailed in a federal indictment, with a maximum of 100 civil suits pending against him.
- A woman who accused both Combs and another rapper of sexual assault has withdrawn her lawsuit against both, indicating potential shifts in the case.
- Combs maintains his innocence and has pleaded not guilty to all charges against him.
- Anthony Ricco filed a motion to withdraw as counsel for Sean "Diddy" Combs in a federal case on Feb. 21, 2025.
- Sean Combs faces serious charges, including racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking, with his trial scheduled for May 5, 2025.
- Ricco cited sufficient reasons protected by attorney-client privilege for his withdrawal, while Combs' legal team remains intact.
- Combs could face a minimum of 15 years and up to life in prison if found guilty of the charges.
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Bias Distribution
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