Sean “Diddy” Combs has hired Alexandra Shapiro, a prominent white-collar appellate lawyer, in his bid to secure bail after being denied release in a Brooklyn jail ahead of his trial on sex trafficking charges, according to Business Insider.
Shapiro is also representing Sam Bankman-Fried, the disgraced crypto mogul and Combs’ prison roommate.
Court records reveal that Combs has turned to Shapiro, a seasoned attorney who previously clerked for former Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, to appeal the judge’s decision to keep him in custody.
Shapiro has already filed a 102-page brief on behalf of Bankman-Fried in his ongoing appeal against his 25-year prison sentence for fraud, money laundering, and conspiracy related to the collapse of FTX and Alameda Research.
Both Combs and Bankman-Fried have been housed together at the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center, following Combs’ failed attempt to secure release on a $50 million bond. The judge rejected the bond offer, citing concerns that Combs could tamper with witnesses or pose a threat to public safety.
The connection between Combs and Bankman-Fried has sparked curiosity, with speculation about whether the two discussed legal strategies during their time sharing dorm-style accommodations. Though it’s unclear if Bankman-Fried recommended Shapiro to Combs, sharing the same attorney adds an interesting layer to both high-profile cases.
Bankman-Fried, who is awaiting a more permanent prison placement, is contesting his conviction in the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. Shapiro’s legal argument for Bankman-Fried focuses on claims that the trial judge unfairly excluded key evidence, making it difficult for the former crypto executive to receive a fair trial.
Neither Shapiro nor Combs’ previous defense team has commented on the recent developments, and a representative for Bankman-Fried has also declined to offer any insight into the legal maneuvering.
