Diddy is hoping lawyer Brian Steel can work the same magic in his sex trafficking case as he did in Young Thug‘s YSL RICO trial.
Just weeks before his own trial is expected to start, the embattled Bad Boy boss is looking to beef up his legal team with the addition of Steel, who earned much praise for the way he represented Thugger in his aforementioned case, which saw the Atlanta rapper freed from jail on a plea deal.
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Steel filed a motion on Tuesday (April 15) asking the court to allow him to defend the rap mogul, who faces charges of sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution.
Jury selection in the trial is currently set to begin on May 5, followed by opening statements a week later on May 12.
UPDATE [4/17]: Brian Steel has officially joined Diddy’s legal team, per Meghann Cuniff.
Here’s something I didn’t expect to write:
Young Thug’s lawyer Brian Steel has joined Sean “Diddy’ Combs’ criminal defense team. pic.twitter.com/1PD3g3ksr4
— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) April 15, 2025
It has also been reported that Diddy is looking to further boost his chances at trial by hiring a Black female attorney.
His legal team have repeatedly argued that the case is another example of prosecutors trying to take down a rich, successful Black man, but according to TMZ, the new addition would not just be for appearances.
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Puffy is currently represented by Marc Agnifilo and Teny Geragos, who are both white.
Prior to his interest in Brian Steel, Diddy had made overtures to A$AP Rocky’s lawyer Joe Tacopina, who recently helped the Harlem rapper win his shooting case and is considered one of the best trial attorneys in the country.
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In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Tacopina said of the former REVOLT boss: “I’m going to speak to him. I’m not saying yes or no. I’m just going to listen.”
The famed lawyer, who has also represented the likes of Donald Trump and baseball legend Alex Rodriguez, had previously told The Breakfast Club that he was not interested in representing Diddy due to his relationship with JAY-Z.
“I was asked to take a look at the case. That’s another case I said I was not interested in,” he said. “I represent Roc Nation; a lot of people in Roc I’m very close with. Jay and [Roc Nation president] Desiree Perez, who’s the most amazing, like bomb of a boss.
“Jay is amazing. You know, Jay Brown, all those people are really special, special people. That’s sort of family to me and I don’t think they see eye-to-eye with P. Diddy.”
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Tacopina also dismissed the idea that Hov and Puffy were close friends, echoing a sentiment made by the Brooklyn billionaire’s lawyer Alex Spiro.
“Everyone wants a picture with P. Diddy, at one time or another, when they went to a party,” Tacopina said.
