Sean 'Diddy' Combs Bolsters Defense With Noted Attorney Brian Steel Amid Expanded Federal Charges

Sean “Diddy” Combs, the influential music mogul and entrepreneur, has made a high-profile addition to his legal team as he faces an expanded federal indictment on sex trafficking and racketeering charges. Brian Steel, the Atlanta-based attorney renowned for his fierce defense of rapper Young Thug in the ongoing YSL trial, has joined Combs’ defense just weeks before jury selection is set to begin in the Southern District of New York.

A Legal Heavyweight Joins the Fray

Steel’s entry into the case was formalized with a court filing on Tuesday, requesting special permission to practice in New York as an out-of-state lawyer. Known for his assertive courtroom tactics and unwavering commitment to client advocacy, Steel’s reputation was cemented during the YSL trial, where he was briefly jailed for contempt after refusing to disclose privileged information—a move that ultimately led to the presiding judge’s removal and the contempt charge being dropped.

“Brian is a legend, especially after YSL,” said Douglas Weinstein, a co-counsel in the YSL case. “His insights, tenacity, and character will be a phenomenal addition to Mr. Combs’ team. I wish I could be a fly on the wall with whatever happens. He’s a legend in Georgia.”

Expanded Indictment and Intensifying Scrutiny

Combs, 55, has been detained in a Brooklyn federal facility since his September arrest. The latest superseding indictment, filed earlier this month, broadens the timeline and scope of the allegations. Prosecutors now accuse Combs of participating in sex trafficking, using force, fraud, or coercion between 2021 and 2024, and transporting multiple individuals for prostitution during that period. These new charges add to previous allegations spanning from 2009 to 2018.

The racketeering conspiracy count alleges that Combs led a criminal enterprise—encompassing his various entertainment, fashion, and beverage businesses—that systematically exploited and abused women and others over two decades. The indictment details a pattern of verbal, physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, as well as alleged acts of kidnapping, arson, bribery, and forced labor.

Combs has pleaded not guilty to all charges and maintains his innocence. His legal team, which now includes Steel and Teny Geragos (daughter of famed attorney Mark Geragos), has requested a delay in the trial’s start, currently scheduled for May 5.

High Stakes and a Star-Studded Defense

The addition of Steel is seen as a strategic move to counter the government’s sweeping case, which has drawn significant media attention and public scrutiny. While the charges against Combs differ from those in the YSL case, both involve allegations of complex criminal enterprises and have become lightning rods for debate about celebrity, power, and justice in the music industry.

Steel’s arrival also quells speculation that Mark Geragos himself would join the defense, though sources note Geragos has been seen in New York, keeping rumors alive about further high-profile reinforcements.

What Comes Next

With jury selection looming and the prosecution preparing to present a trove of evidence—including a reportedly incriminating 2016 video—Combs’ legal team faces an uphill battle. Steel’s reputation for principled, unflinching defense could prove pivotal as the trial unfolds, promising a courtroom drama as intense as the headlines that have followed the case from the start.

Combs remains in custody, steadfast in his plea of not guilty, as his newly fortified defense team prepares for what is expected to be a fiercely contested and closely watched trial.