Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ lawyer quits ahead of sex-trafficking trial: ‘Under no circumstances can I continue’

One of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ defence lawyers has issued a scathing statement as he sensationally quits just three months ahead of the rapper’s trial.

One of Sean “Diddy” Combs’ defence lawyers has quit.

Anthony Ricco — who is one of six attorneys working on Combs’ sex-trafficking case — “respectfully but regrettably” filed a motion to withdraw as representation on Thursday.

“Under no circumstances can I continue to effectively serve as counsel for Sean Combs, consistent with the ABA Standards for Criminal Justice,” Ricco wrote in documents obtained by Page Six.

However, the lawyer didn’t reveal the exact reason behind his decision because of “lawyer-client privilege.”

Lawyer Anthony Ricco speaks to the media regarding Diddy’s case as he exits Manhattan federal court on October. Picture: AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura

“While I am aware that the Local Rule requires that an application for withdrawal of counsel is supported and granted ‘only upon a showing by affidavit or otherwise of satisfactory reasons for withdrawal,’” he continued, “there are sufficient reasons (related to the protections afforded by the lawyer/client privilege) for brevity in my application for withdrawal as counsel in this case.”

Ricco assured the judge that his resignation would “not result in a delay” of the May 5 trial since the disgraced rapper, 55, “will continue to be represented by five other attorneys of record.”

He informed Combs’ lead counsel, Mark Agnifilio, that he would step down before filing the paperwork.

However, a judge has to find sufficient reason to approve Ricco’s request, meaning he is not off the case quite yet. It’s unclear how long it will take the judge to decide and sign off on the withdrawal motion.

The lawyer said “under no circumstances can I continue to effectively serve as counsel for Sean Combs”. Picture: Phillip Faraone/Getty Images

Reps for Combs did not immediately respond to Page Six’s request for comment.

The Bad Boy Records founder has been behind bars in New York City since September 2024 — 10 months after his legal woes began.

In November 2023, Combs’ ex-girlfriend Cassandra “Cassie” Ventura accused him of rape and abuse throughout their decade-long relationship.

Although the two settled the lawsuit just 24 hours later, dozens of other people have since accused the rapper of similar crimes — all of which he has denied.

Homeland Security raided Combs’ multiple homes in March 2024 and was subsequently arrested six months later.

Combs was accused of throwing wild sex parties called “freak offs” and charged with racketeering conspiracy; sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion; and transportation to engage in prostitution.

The I’ll Be Missing You rapper, who faces up to life in prison if convicted, pleaded not guilty to all charges.

A courtroom sketch featuring Diddy with defence lawyer Marc Agnifilo (left) and defence lawyer Anthony Ricco (right). Picture: Elizabeth Williams via AP

While Combs prepares his defence, he also recently flipped onto the offensive, filing a $US100 million defamation lawsuit against NBCUniversal and the production company Ample for the alleged lies aired in their Diddy: The Making of a Bad Boy doc.

According to Combs, the docuseries suggests he “has committed numerous heinous crimes, including serial murder, rape of minors, and sex trafficking of minors, and attempts to crudely psychologise him” — despite not getting a chance to prove his alleged innocence in court.

“It maliciously and baselessly jumps to the conclusion that Mr. Combs is a ‘monster’ and ‘an embodiment of Lucifer’ with ‘a lot of similarities to Jeffrey Epstein,’” the lawsuit alleged.

Combs team claimed they warned the network against making the “unequivocally false” accusations — which they allege had been “debunked and lack any credible evidence” — one month before the show’s January 2024 release.

This article originally appeared in Page Six and was reproduced with permission