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Sean “Diddy” Combs, who is facing serious charges including sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to engage in prostitution, is intensifying his efforts to build a top-tier criminal defense team as his trial approaches. According to a court filing shared by legal affairs journalist Meghann Cuniff, high-profile attorney Brian Steel has requested permission to represent Diddy in the trial.
Steel, known for his work defending Young Thug in the YSL RICO case, has filed a motion to appear as an out-of-state lawyer in the Southern District of New York, where Diddy’s trial will take place. This move adds to the ongoing reshuffling of Diddy’s legal team. Earlier this year, attorney Anthony Ricco withdrew from representing Diddy, and there’s speculation about why he stepped down. Meanwhile, prominent attorney Mark Geragos, who is currently involved in the legal defense of the Menendez brothers, is also expected to play a key role in Diddy’s trial.
Diddy is reportedly on the lookout for a Black female attorney to join his defense team, which is in line with his strategy to diversify the legal counsel representing him. The lead attorneys for the case, Marc Agnifilo and Teny Geragos, will remain in their positions as the primary counsel.
Brian Steel is no stranger to high-profile legal drama. He made headlines last year when he was charged with contempt of court after refusing to reveal how he had learned about a controversial conversation involving Judge Ural Glanville, prosecutors, and a key witness. The charge was eventually dropped, and the judge was removed from the case.
As Diddy’s legal team prepares for trial, his attorneys have requested a delay of at least two weeks. They claim that the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York has not been fully sharing the necessary materials with them, which could hinder their ability to adequately prepare for trial. Another hearing is set for Friday, where these concerns will likely be addressed.