Eager to fortify his defense ahead of his upcoming federal sex‑trafficking and racketeering trial in Manhattan, Bad Boy Records founder Sean “Diddy” Combs is set to enlist Brian Steel, the attorney renowned for his combative representation of Young Thug.
Steel officially filed to practice in the Southern District of New York mere weeks before jury selection begins on May 5, filling the void left by Anthony Ricco’s departure in February and bolstering a defense team that already includes Marc Agnifilo and Teny Geragos.
Steel’s aggressive courtroom tactics and staunch defense of client confidentiality made national headlines during Young Thug’s YSL RICO trial. He was held in contempt in Georgia for refusing to divulge the source of leaked information, a ruling later reversed by the Georgia Supreme Court.
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Meanwhile, Combs’ legal team is pressing for a two‑week delay, citing the need to sift through roughly 200,000 emails and other materials they say federal prosecutors have yet to produce. They contend that key evidence, emails from an alleged victim and WhatsApp messages remains outstanding.
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U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian granted the defense 48 hours to file a formal postponement motion, warning, “We are a freight train moving toward trial.” Prosecutors fired back, accusing the defense of “gamesmanship,” while Combs’ attorneys argued any delay would be “very short” and essential to ensure proper discovery.
Held without bail since his September 2024 arrest, Combs appeared in court on Monday, April 14, where he pleaded not guilty to two additional charges added earlier this month—bringing his total counts to five, including racketeering, sex trafficking, and transporting individuals for prostitution.
Despite the adjournment request, the trial remains slated to begin May 5, pending the court’s ruling on the motion.
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