<p id=”par-1_63″><a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/tag/sean-diddy-combs/?swcfpc=1″>Sean “Diddy” Combs</a> hired Brian Steel, the lawyer who recently defended Young Thug and became a popular figure in the <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/music/”>rap</a> world. Drake even named a 2025 song after him. Given the goodwill Steel has garnered in recent years, it may seem surprising that he’d take on a client as publicly reviled as Combs. Steel shared why he is working for Combs’ defense. </p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-sean-diddy-combs-lawyer-shared-why-he-s-working-for-him”>Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ lawyer shared why he’s working for him</h2>
<p id=”par-2_65″>This April, Combs hired Steel as a member of his legal team. Steel has been described as a family man who doesn’t smoke, drink, or curse, even when reading from a transcript. Still, he will defend Combs against <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/sean-diddy-combs-racketeering-charge-unique-attorney-says.html/”>charges of sex trafficking and racketeering</a>. Steel has said he truly believes in Combs’ innocence. He seems to believe more firmly in a fair legal system, though.</p>
<p id=”par-3_25″>“I’ve defended people who cut out eyes and ate them,” he told <a href=”https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2025/05/05/a-lawyer-freed-young-thug-now-hes-defending-diddy” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>The New Yorker</a>. “The system only works when the accused have real representation.”</p>
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<p id=”par-4_27″>He also explained that he likes the challenge the case poses. The allegations against Combs are serious and plentiful, and he faces life in prison if convicted.</p>
<p id=”par-5_25″>“The more challenging the case is, the more likely I’ll take it,” Steel said. “Do I like the person I’m defending? That’s the main thing.”</p>
<p id=”par-6_22″>He asserted that despite the charges and numerous lawsuits, he believes in Combs’ innocence, just as he does with all his clients.</p>
<p id=”par-7_16″>“See, I don’t believe allegations,” he said. “I got into it believing the person is innocent.”</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-what-other-lawyers-are-representing-sean-diddy-combs”>What other lawyers are representing Sean “Diddy” Combs?</h2>
<p id=”par-8_19″>Steel is just the latest addition to Combs’ defense team. Criminal defense attorney Marc Antony Agnifilo also represents Combs.</p>
<p id=”par-9_67″>“Marc Agnifilo has won acquittals in many of the most complex and difficult trials in America,” reads his firm’s <a target=”_blank” href=”https://agilawgroup.com/lawyers/marc-agnifilo” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>website</a>. “In the last several years alone, he secured three complete acquittals in cases ranging from assault to international tax fraud to political corruption. Marc has tried more than 200 cases over his 30 year career, and is routinely hired in Federal and State Court in complex cases.”</p>
<p id=”par-10_17″>Teny Geragos, an attorney at Agnifilo’s firm, and Alexandra Shapiro are also lead <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/one-member-of-diddys-legal-team-quits-case-with-ominous-statement-who-are-his-remaining-lawyers.html/”>attorneys on the defense</a>.</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-the-prosecution-offered-combs-a-plea-deal”>The prosecution offered Combs a plea deal</h2>
<p id=”par-11_58″>Jury selection for Combs’ trial is set to <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/when-does-diddy-trial-start-rapper-loses-bid-delay-court-date.html/”>begin on May 5</a>. Ahead of this, the prosecution offered Combs a plea deal, which he rejected. Judge Arun Subramanian will address Combs’ rejection at a hearing on May 1. Former New York State prosecutor Francisco Mundaca said it is standard practice for the prosecution to offer a plea deal.</p>
<p id=”par-12_45″>“This frequently happens in these types of cases,” he told <a href=”https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/sean-diddy-combs-rejected-plea-deal-1235325316/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>Rolling Stone</a>. “With sex assault cases, prosecutors try to protect the alleged victims as much as possible. Maybe their safety is in question, or you want to protect them from having to relive what happened.”</p>
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<p id=”par-13_11″>He added that prosecutors want to seek justice without retraumatizing victims.</p>
<p id=”par-14_34″>“Once they testify, all the details are out there,” he said. “So prosecutors want to balance bringing justice on behalf of victims while also protecting them. It’s a fine line they have to walk.”</p>
<p id=”par-15_10″>Combs has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.</p>