With less than three months until his federal trial, Diddy is facing an unexpected shake-up on his legal team. One of his attorneys, Anthony Ricco, has officially withdrawn from the case.
According to court documents filed Friday in the Southern District of New York, Ricco cited professional and ethical reasons for his departure, stating, “Under no circumstances can I continue to effectively serve as counsel for Sean Combs, consistent with the ABA Standards for Criminal Justice.” He did not provide further details but noted there were “sufficient reasons” for his brief explanation.
Despite the sudden move, Ricco reassured the court that his withdrawal would not impact the case, as Diddy’s lead attorneys, Marc Agnifilo and Teny Geragos, remain on board. He confirmed that his exit would not cause any delays in jury selection or the trial’s scheduled start.
Ricco originally joined Diddy’s defense team in September 2024, making his abrupt departure notable. However, sources close to the hip-hop mogul told TMZ that there is no internal crisis or cause for concern.
“The rules of professional conduct require him to say things that might sound dramatic, and unlike the way people normally speak,” a source explained, adding, “There’s no crisis.” The source also emphasized that Diddy’s primary legal team has remained intact for nearly a year.
As Diddy prepares for his upcoming trial, his legal team, now without Ricco, continues to strategize for the high-profile case.