Embattled rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs has suffered a setback in his bid to show his innocence after certainly one of his attorneys exited his authorized staff with a mysterious assertion.
Diddy’s lawyer, Anthony Ricco, filed a movement for withdraw of counsel on Friday, although his actions will not delay the present trial schedule.
The setback comes amid a latest authorized victory for Diddy after certainly one of his accusers voluntarily withdrew her case in opposition to him and Jay-Z.
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Anthony Ricco Steps Down As Diddy’s Counsel
BREAKING: Diddy’s lawyer, Anthony Ricco, has resigned following Kash Patel’s appointment to the FBI.
Anthony Ricco said, “Certainly not can I proceed.” pic.twitter.com/csgZwiKPYX
— aka (@akafaceUS) February 21, 2025
Rico filed a movement for withdraw of counsel in New York, stating that he would not proceed his providers to Diddy below any circumstances.
In accordance with paperwork obtained by The Mirror US, Ricco stated, “Certainly not can I proceed to successfully function counsel for Sean Combs.”
The paperwork additionally said that Ricco held discussions with Diddy’s lead counsel, Mark Agnifilo, earlier than submitting the movement.
The outlet additionally reported that Ricco declined to offer particulars to assist the applying and stated his determination to step down will not have an effect on the present schedule for the trial, which is able to start on Might 5.
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Anthony Ricco Cites Moral Issues
Within the court docket doc, the legal professional clarified that he has “offered Sean Combs with excessive stage of authorized illustration anticipated by the court docket.”
He added that “by no means” might he proceed to “successfully function counsel for Sean Combs, in keeping with the ABA Requirements for Legal Justice.”
Signing off the doc, Ricco wrote, “WHEREFORE, it’s respectfully however regrettably requested that the court docket grant the reduction requested within the annexed discover of movement, and allow counsel Anthony L. Ricco to withdraw as legal professional of report.”
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Reactions To Diddy’s Lawyer’s Choice To Step Down

After information of Ricco’s exit from Diddy’s authorized staff made headlines, a number of Redditors took turns attempting to interpret his actions.
Some folks shared their ideas within the Music subreddit, which is comprised of over 37 million members.
One Redditor stated, “Most definitely, the lawyer came upon Diddy was committing different crimes like witness tampering/intimidation/bribery/extortion, instructed Diddy to cease instantly, which he refused to.”
One other individual felt extra attorneys would go away Diddy’s authorized staff. They wrote, “That is customary for delays in instances. He may have a number of attorneys give up earlier than he truly sees a courtroom.”
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A 3rd Redditor added, “Why am I not shocked? They will need to have some critical proof that he is responsible if they will not grant him bail. And you realize it is unhealthy when his personal buddies aren’t coming to his protection.”
They added, “I am going to wager if he is discovered responsible and going through critical time in jail, he’ll promote out his buddies to get a while diminished. Both method, he is finished for.”
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Diddy’s Rape Accuser Withdraws Case

Ricco’s determination to step down as Diddy’s authorized counsel comes when the incarcerated music mogul gained a small authorized victory.
On February 14, an unidentified girl, who accused Diddy and Jay-Z of raping her when she was 13 years outdated in 2000, voluntarily withdrew her case.
Within the submitting, the plaintiff, recognized as Jane Doe, dismissed the case with prejudice, that means the lawsuit can by no means be refiled in its present type.
Following the case’s withdrawal, Diddy’s authorized staff made an announcement, stressing how the event confirmed how the lawsuits in opposition to him have been “constructed on falsehoods, not info.”
They added, “For months, we’ve got seen case after case filed by people hiding behind anonymity, pushed ahead by an legal professional extra targeted on media headlines than authorized benefit. Similar to this declare, the others will collapse as a result of there isn’t any fact to them. Sean Combs has by no means sexually assaulted or trafficked anybody—man or girl, grownup or minor.”
The assertion concluded, “No variety of lawsuits, sensationalized allegations, or media theatrics will change that actuality. We’ll proceed to combat these baseless claims and maintain these accountable. That is simply the primary of many that won’t maintain up in a court docket of legislation.”
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Diddy’s Legal professionals File To Dismiss Prostitution Cost

The rapper is going through fees of intercourse trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to have interaction in prostitution below the Mann Act.
Diddy claimed the legislation had traditionally been used in opposition to profitable Black males like Chuck Berry and Jack Johnson.
In accordance with TMZ, his attorneys argued that hiring escorts was extensively accepted and that related instances, reminiscent of former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer’s scandal, had not been prosecuted the identical method.
In the meantime, Diddy stays incarcerated, sustaining his innocence amid a number of authorized battles.
