Sean “Diddy” Combs’ defense team has suffered a setback as one of his attorneys, Anthony Ricco, has officially filed a motion to withdraw from the case. Ricco, who has been part of the legal team defending Combs against federal charges, stated that he could no longer continue in the role under any circumstances.

In the affidavit submitted to the court, Ricco did not elaborate on the reasons behind his decision, citing attorney-client privilege. However, he mentioned that his withdrawal followed discussions with Marc Agnifilo, the lead counsel on Combs’ legal team.

Ricco reassured the court that his departure would not interfere with the ongoing legal proceedings. He emphasized that the current schedule for jury selection and trial preparations would remain unaffected. Combs, who still has five attorneys representing him, is not expected to experience any gap in legal counsel.

The music mogul and entrepreneur remains in custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn as he awaits trial. He is facing serious charges, including sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation for illegal activities. The indictment, filed in the Southern District of New York, has drawn significant public attention, with Combs maintaining his plea of not guilty.

Multiple attempts to secure bail for Combs have been denied by three different federal judges, who expressed concerns over potential witness tampering.

With his trial scheduled to begin on May 5, Combs and his remaining defense team will have to navigate the legal battle without Ricco. The coming weeks will reveal what impact, if any, this departure has on the high-profile case.