HOUSTON – Houston attorney Tony Buzbee has withdrawn himself from a sex trafficking lawsuit filed against Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs.
The withdrawal comes after a federal judge signed an order saying Buzbee had not been permitted to practice law in the Southern District of New York. The order went on to say Buzbee shall file a letter by Mar. 18 explaining why he failed to notify the court about his inability to practice law in the Southern District of New York and propose steps to rectify it.
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In a letter to U.S. District Judge Ronnie Abrams, Buzbee says he made an “error in judgement” by failing to inform him that he lacked the eligibility to practice law in the Southern District of New York.
“I now seek to remedy this error by withdrawing my representation of the Plaintiff in this matter pending the resolution of my admission to this court,” the letter says. “As an attorney in good standing of the New York State Bar, the Texas State Bar, and your sister district, the Bar for Eastern District of the State of New York, I believe I am eminently qualified and should not be precluded from representing the Plaintiff in this action. At this time, however, my admission status has become a distraction that has shifted the focus of the matter away from where it should be, which is securing justice for the Plaintiff.”
The letter goes on to say the plaintiff in the case will continue to be represented by counsel from another law firm until Buzbee sorts out the issues.
Buzbee had been representing over 120 individuals who allege they were victimized by Combs.
Combs has been in a Brooklyn jail since his September arrest on racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking charges. He is currently awaiting trial for the charges.
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