Facing mounting legal peril, Diddy is turning to Brian Steel—the defense attorney behind Young Thug’s RICO case—in what appears to be a calculated shift in strategy. With looming charges that include racketeering and sex trafficking, the mogul’s recruitment of Steel signals a high-stakes pivot ahead of a potentially defining trial.
Steel has recently submitted a motion to the court seeking permission to join Diddy’s legal team. His prior accomplishments in the high-stakes environment of criminal defense, particularly in securing a favorable plea deal for Young Thug, have garnered him considerable acclaim. Diddy’s trial is scheduled to commence with jury selection on May 5, followed by opening statements on May 12.
Diddy Eyes Legal Shift Amid Race Optics and Industry Ties
The inclusion of Steel has drawn sharp attention across legal circles, with some observers surprised by the alignment. Legal journalist Meghann Cuniff noted the unexpected nature of the partnership, underscoring the weight of Steel’s courtroom pedigree.
At the same time, Diddy is reportedly considering the addition of a Black woman to his defense team—an intentional departure from his current white attorneys, Marc Agnifilo and Teny Geragos. The potential move appears aimed at challenging prevailing narratives around racial inequity in high-profile prosecutions, as his representatives argue the charges reflect a wider trend of elite Black men being disproportionately targeted by the justice system.
Diddy had also expressed interest in retaining Joe Tacopina, the prominent trial attorney who previously represented A$AP Rocky in his Swedish legal battle. But Tacopina has approached the case with caution, citing longstanding ties to Roc Nation and its leadership, including JAY-Z, as a reason for hesitation. In a recent interview, Tacopina emphasized the value of those relationships, suggesting that taking on Diddy’s case would be difficult to reconcile with his existing affiliations—casting further doubt on any future involvement.
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