Star defense attorney Joe Tacopina has represented a US president, a baseball legend and an iconic pop star — but he turned down Sean “Diddy” Combs when the rapper came calling.
The Brooklyn-born legal eagle, fresh off getting A$AP Rocky acquitted on gun charges, informed Combs last month that the timing of the blockbuster case didn’t work for him.
“I think he has a defensible case,” Tacopina told The Post.
He also dismissed speculation that his decision was influenced by his close ties to Jay-Z and Roc Nation, calling such rumors “misconstrued.”
Jury selection in Combs’ federal sex trafficking trial continued on Tuesday in Manhattan, with opening arguments scheduled to begin Monday.
Combs is alleged to have used his wealth and influence to recruit, exploit, and abuse women, often coercing them into sexual acts through threats, manipulation, or force between 2004 and 2024.
He has pleaded not guilty and hired a high-powered legal team that includes Marc Agnifilo, Teny Geragos, Brian Steel, Alexandra Shapiro, Xavier Donaldson, Jason Driscoll, Anna Estevao and reportedly Mark Geragos.
When asked about the merits of the government’s case against Diddy, Tacopina sounded skeptical.
“The entire case, I tell you, rises and falls on consent. It’s really that simple,” Tacopina said.
“I believe the defense has ample evidence of consent, including rare communications that contradict the allegations. That’s my view.”
According to Tacopina, federal prosecutors are using the RICO statute, which was originally created to bring down organized crime figures, in order to indict Diddy “for having parties.”
Tacopina said that the charges were brought against Diddy so that federal prosecutors could “get their names in the paper” given that the rapper is a “big target.”
“I do think he’s getting a raw deal,” Tacopina added.
It’s no wonder that Diddy sought Tacopina’s services. The Brooklyn native is fresh off of one of his biggest triumphs — the acquittal of A$AP Rocky, who faced more than 20 years in prison on weapons charges.
Tacopina still remembers the surreal moment Rihanna embraced him in the middle of a Los Angeles courtroom just after her partner and the father of their child was found not guilty.
As she wept tears of relief, she wrapped her arms around Tacopina, buried her face into his designer suit, and whispered, “You saved my family.”
It was an emotional climax to a hard-fought legal battle, but for Tacopina — who takes pride in his meticulously tailored Italian suits—there was one drawback.
“She’s crying on my lapel,” he recalled with a chuckle. “When she pulled back, I saw the entire Fenty color palette on my jacket.”
Jokingly, he told her she owed him a new suit.
“Joe, I’ll get you 10,” she replied.
Tacopina told The Post that he may hang the the tear-stained lapel in his office as a memento.
It’s just another chapter in the career of the Brownsville native who has built a reputation as one of the nation’s most fearless and in-demand defense attorneys.
Known for his fiery courtroom presence and unapologetic style, Tacopina commands as much as $2,000 an hour—and his client list reads like a celebrity power index.
Over the years, he’s represented everyone from Michael Jackson and Meek Mill to Alex Rodriguez and the Washington Commanders.
Tacopina’s name drew headlines again when he successfully defended former President Donald Trump in a civil lawsuit filed by writer E. Jean Carroll.
In a rare courtroom win for Trump, Tacopina convinced the jury that his client was not liable for rape, a significant legal and political moment.
A federal jury, however, did find Trump liable for sexually abusing and defaming Carroll, awarding her over $88 million in total damages across two trials.
Tacopina announced that he is currently representing rapper Fat Joe in a high-profile defamation and extortion case. He also recently joined the legal team of former TV host Wendy Williams as she fights to regain control over her life from a court-appointed guardian.
His path to the courtroom wasn’t a straight one.
Tacopina initially set his sights on a career in professional hockey, playing briefly in the New York Islanders’ farm system.
But a debate class at Skidmore College changed everything. A professor noted his gift for argument and urged him to consider law school.
Inspired, Tacopina read “Fatal Vision,” a true crime book that confirmed his calling. “It was the most fascinating thing ever,” he said. “This is what I want to do.”
Now with over 120 trials under his belt, Tacopina credits his toughness and confidence to growing up in a tough Brooklyn neighborhood. “I truly do not possess a fear gene,” he said. A tattoo on his forearm reads: “I’m from the ’ville… Never ran, never will.”
For Tacopina, each case is more than a job—it’s a battle.
And whether he’s facing a federal jury or wiping makeup from a courtroom suit, he shows no signs of slowing down.
This story originally appeared on NYPost
