A defence lawyer representing Sean “Diddy” Combs has filed a movement to step down because the rapper’s lawyer, in keeping with authorized paperwork filed on Thursday.
Within the movement filed in New York Federal Courtroom, Anthony Ricco notified the decide of his intent to withdraw and mentioned there are “enough causes” protected by lawyer/consumer privilege.
“Though I’ve supplied Sean Combs with the excessive stage of authorized illustration anticipated by the courtroom, certainly not can I proceed to successfully function counsel for Sean Combs,” he wrote.
He declined to enter the precise particulars as to why he was leaving Diddy’s authorized workforce, however he did observe it adopted discussions with the music mogul’s lawyer, Marc Agnifilo.
Ricco mentioned that his movement for withdrawal of counsel “won’t lead to a delay of the current schedule for the graduation of jury choice and trial, or the current schedules for briefing of pretrial authorized points.”
Within the movement, which must be permitted by a decide, Ricco added that there “will likely be no lapse in illustration” as Diddy will proceed to be represented by 5 different legal professionals on file.
“With out violating any facet of the legal professional/consumer privilege, or in any other case offering any particulars in any respect on the grounds supporting the appliance, the federal government has been notified of the submitting of the movement to withdraw as counsel. The federal government takes no place on the movement in search of withdrawal of counsel for Sean Combs,” the submitting reads.
Diddy is at the moment dealing with greater than 30 civil lawsuits. He’s awaiting a federal legal trial on intercourse trafficking and racketeering, scheduled for Might 5. If convicted, Diddy faces life in jail.
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He has pleaded not responsible to the intercourse trafficking costs lodged in opposition to him after his September 2024 arrest. He stays incarcerated with out bail.
Final month, prosecutors added new particulars to their indictment in opposition to Diddy, accusing him of intercourse trafficking at the very least three girls and dangling somebody off a lodge balcony throughout a two-decade racketeering conspiracy.
Prosecutors added 4 years to the size of Diddy’s alleged racketeering conspiracy within the revised indictment, saying it lasted from about 2004 to 2024. The unique indictment mentioned the conspiracy started in 2008.
The refreshed indictment additionally said that there are at the very least three feminine victims and listed them as “Sufferer-1,” Sufferer-2″ and “Sufferer-3,” in keeping with courtroom paperwork seen by International Information.
Prosecutors mentioned Diddy used his “energy and status” within the leisure trade to intimidate, threaten and lure girls, typically beneath the pretense of a romantic relationship.
The indictment said that Diddy “abused, threatened, and coerced girls and others round him to meet his sexual wishes, defend his popularity, and conceal his conduct.”
It mentioned he subjected his victims to violence, threats of violence, threats of monetary and reputational hurt and verbal abuse. The allegations additionally declare that he “manipulated girls to take part in extremely orchestrated performances of sexual exercise with male business intercourse staff.”
In an announcement, Diddy’s lawyer, Agnifilo, mentioned the submitting has “no new offenses” and claimed that the prosecutions’ principle “stays flawed.”
“The federal government has added the ridiculous principle that two of Mr. Combs’ former girlfriends weren’t girlfriends in any respect however have been prostitutes. Mr. Combs is as dedicated as ever to preventing these costs and profitable at trial,” Agnifilo added.
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