An attorney for Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs filed a motion Thursday in the Southern District of New York federal court to withdraw as the music mogul’s counsel.
Diddy’s trial is set to begin in roughly three months.
“Under no circumstances can I continue to effectively serve as counsel for Sean Combs, consistent with the ABA Standards for Criminal Justice,” Anthony Ricco said in an affidavit, according to TMZ.
The attorney said there are “sufficient reasons for [the] brevity” of his request, but didn’t offer any further explanation for bailing on Combs.
Ricco noted that he discussed the matter with Diddy’s lead counsel, Marc Agnifilo, prior to filing the motion in court, and confirmed that his decision to cease his role in this case will not result in any lapse in representation, delay with jury selection, or trial commencement, according to TMZ.
The attorney joined Diddy’s defense team in September.
Sources connected to Diddy told TMZ that despite the strong wording in Ricco’s court documents there is no cause for concern and no current crisis.
“The rules of professional conduct require him to say things that might sound dramatic, and unlike the way people normally speak,” the source said, according to TMZ.
Diddy’s lead counsel team consists of Agnifilo and Teny Geragos. Both attorneys have stayed by Diddy’s side for nearly a year.
Federal prosecutors indicted Diddy on charges of sex trafficking, racketeering and kidnapping in September, shortly after video footage of Diddy appearing to beat his estranged girlfriend Cassie Ventura went viral. Ventura is expected to testify in the case.
