Texas attorney Tony Buzbee, known for his legal battles against music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, is stepping down from representing clients in more than a dozen sex trafficking lawsuits filed against Diddy in New York federal court.
Court documents obtained by TMZ reveal that Buzbee has officially filed to withdraw as the attorney in 15 cases in the Southern District of New York (SDNY).
Buzbee explained that his withdrawal was due to his failure to secure the necessary admission to practice law in SDNY. In a statement to U.S. District Judge Ronnie Abrams, Buzbee acknowledged making an “error in judgment” by not notifying the court about his lack of authorization to practice in the district. He admitted that his admission status had become a distraction, diverting attention from the victims involved in the case.
Although Buzbee is stepping down, the lawsuits will proceed. The alleged victims will now be represented by New York-based law firms. Buzbee clarified that his firm remains involved in the case, and he is still overseeing other lawsuits against Diddy in different states. He also mentioned that additional lawsuits against the mogul are forthcoming, with plans to file cases in Nevada and California soon.
Buzbee, a licensed attorney in New York’s Eastern District, claims that his SDNY admission was delayed due to a grievance filed by rapper Jay-Z in an unrelated case. While Buzbee’s withdrawal from these federal cases represents a setback for the lawsuits against Diddy, the legal battle continues in various jurisdictions.
