Brian Steel Added To Diddy’s Defense Team For Upcoming Federal Trial

In a surprising move, it was reported that Young Thug’s attorney, Brian Steel, is joining the defense team of former Bad Boy Records owner Sean “Diddy” Combs for his upcoming federal trial.

Famed court reporter Meghann Cuniff, who has been covering celebrity court cases like the Tory Lanez trial, the Young Thug case, and many others, posted the news on her social media account.

“Here’s something I didn’t expect to write: Young Thug’s lawyer Brian Steel has joined Sean “Diddy’ Combs’ criminal defense team.”

She posted the paperwork that the attorney filed April 15 in the U.S. Southern District Court of New York.

Here’s something I didn’t expect to write:

Young Thug’s lawyer Brian Steel has joined Sean “Diddy’ Combs’ criminal defense team. pic.twitter.com/1PD3g3ksr4

— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) April 15, 2025

Steel became a household name during the Young Thug RICO trial when he put up possibly the best defense a client can ask for when he fought tooth and nail for the Atlanta rapper. There is speculation that Thug would still be in jail if not for the defense practice of Steel. The trial became the longest criminal trial in Georgia’s history.

In Steel’s motion to be included on Diddy’s defense team, he admitted to being held in contempt during Thug’s trial, where the judge admonished him for questioning him about having a conversation with a witness without his presence as required by law. The judge was removed from the case shortly after the incident. The misdemeanor contempt conviction was reversed when, through an appeal by Steel, the Supreme Court of Georgia issued a unanimous decision in the attorney’s favor.

“‘On June 10, 2024, I was held in contempt by a Superior Court Judge in Fulton County, Georgia in State of Georgia v. Jeffery Williams et al., Case Number 22SC 183 572 when the judge wrongfully ordered that I reveal privileged information.’”

“On June 10, 2024, I was held in contempt by a Superior Court Judge in Fulton County, Georgia in State of Georgia v. Jeffery Williams et al., Case Number 22SC 183 572 when the judge wrongfully ordered that I reveal privileged information.”
– Diddy’s new lawyer Brian Steel pic.twitter.com/4q0EOSxra9

— Meghann Cuniff (@meghanncuniff) April 15, 2025

According to NPR, Jeffrey Williams, also known as Young Thug, pleaded guilty on Oct. 31, 2024, after prosecutors requested that he be sentenced to 45 years, 25 in prison and 20 on probation. Fulton County Judge Paige Reese Whitaker sentenced the rapper to a total sentence of 40 years, with him serving the first five in prison. But, she allowed him to go free when she commuted the five years due to being in custody for more than 900 days after he was initially booked in May 2022.

“The total sentence is 40 years, to serve the first 5 years in prison, but commuted to the time you’ve already served,” Whitaker stated at his sentencing.