One Member of Diddy’s Legal Team Quits Case With Ominous Statement: Who Are His Remaining Lawyers?

There has been a massive development in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ criminal case. While the disgraced music mogul remains behind bars at a federal facility in New York City, his legal team will need to scramble to alter their duties. A key member of Diddy’s defense team has opted to step down, offering an ominous explanation for the sudden change of heart just a few months before the case goes to trial.

Anthony Ricco is dropping Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs as a client

Anthony Ricco has opted to step away from Sean “Diddy” Combs’ legal battle. The music mogul hired the attorney in September 2024, the same month federal agents arrested Diddy on sex trafficking and racketeering charges.

The defense attorney, who has worked on many high-profile cases and is a law professor, told a New York judge that he could not continue as legal counsel for Diddy. In a filing, Ricco said, “Under no circumstances can I continue to effectively serve as counsel for Sean Combs.” He went on to request that a judge grant his relief request.

While the statement might sound ominous, there is a good reason for the mysterious nature of it. According to the New York Post, Ricco’s statement was so brief because he must protect attorney-client privilege. In short, Ricco’s reason for quitting may be directly tied to something he learned while interacting with Diddy or the other lawyers on the case. He can not share that information.                                                                                                                       

Diddy is already working with other lawyers

Sean “Diddy” Combs’ legal defense might have hit a setback with the resignation of Anthony Ricco. The rapper won’t be starting over with new counsel, though. Ricco was just one of six members of his team. None of his other lawyers have indicated that they’ll be resigning. So, who are the other lawyers working with Diddy?

According to several sources, Mark Agnifilo is the lead counsel on Diddy’s criminal defense team. The Brooklyn Law School graduate is renowned for defending complex, high-profile cases. He has represented clients charged with everything from sex trafficking to bribery. Agnifilo has not spoken about Ricco’s decision to remove himself from the case. Interestingly enough, Agnifilo’s wife, Karen Friedman Agnifilo, is serving as Luigi Mangione’s legal counsel. Mangione, who stands accused of shooting and killing United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, is housed in the same institution as Diddy.

Teny Geragos, who has appeared on several news shows since Diddy’s arrest, and Alexandra Shapiro are also working on the case, according to Newsweek. There are reportedly additional lawyers involved. Each lawyer took on a different aspect of Diddy’s complex criminal charges. According to the publication, Shapiro took the lead on Diddy’s unsuccessful bail requests.

It’s unclear how Ricco’s decision to step down will affect Diddy’s case and how his team will proceed now. Still, Ricco insists there has been no disruption, and the timeline for the trial remains the same. Diddy’s trial is expected to begin in May, but it wouldn’t be unheard of for that to change.