Sean Diddy has lost one of his lawyers working on his case just weeks before his trial is set to begin.
Diddy, 55, was arrested in New York City last September on charges of sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation for prostitution, all of which he vigorously denies and has pleaded not guilty to.
His trial is scheduled for May, and he has been working with a team of lawyers including Anthony Ricco, Marc Agnifilo, Teny Geragos, and three others on his defense. However, Ricco filed a motion on Friday to withdraw from the case, citing an inability to continue with trial preparations.
Filing in the Southern District of New York, the lawyer made his intention to step down clear with a letter that reads, per The Hollywood Reporter, “Although I have provided Sean Combs with the high level of legal representation expected by the court, under no circumstances can I continue to effectively serve as counsel for Sean Combs, consistent with the ABA Standards for Criminal Justice.”
Despite Ricco’s departure, the trial is still expected to proceed as planned in May, with Agnifilo, Geragos, and the remaining attorneys representing Diddy. The rapper has been in custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn since his arrest.
