Sean “Diddy” Combs has enlisted a new attorney in his bid for bail while he appeals a judge’s decision to keep him incarcerated in a Brooklyn jail as he faces sex-trafficking charges.
His new lawyer, Alexandra Shapiro, also represents his roommate, Sam Bankman-Fried, the infamous fraudster.
Shapiro is an accomplished white-collar appellate attorney who previously clerked for former Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. She is currently handling Bankman-Fried’s appeal after he was sentenced to 25 years in prison following his conviction for fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy.
Last month, Shapiro submitted a 102-page brief to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, contending that the trial judge improperly excluded key evidence, which she argues unfairly influenced the outcome against Bankman-Fried.
Bankman-Fried is currently held at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center while awaiting the outcome of his appeal before being transferred to a more permanent facility.
Combs is also detained there after two judges denied his request for a $50 million bond, citing concerns that he might pose a danger or interfere with witnesses.
According to a source familiar with the matter, Combs and Bankman-Fried are sharing a room in a dormitory-style setup, although the nature of their conversations and whether Bankman-Fried advised Combs to hire Shapiro remains unclear.
