Watch: Sean “Diddy” Combs’ homes raided by government
The Department of Homeland Security has searched two homes belonging to Sean “Diddy” Combs while he is on trial and under investigation for sex trafficking.
Sean “Diddy” Combs, the subject of two federal raids and a sex trafficking investigation, was arrested in Manhattan on Monday.
Combs’ attorney Marc Agnifilo confirmed the news in a statement to USA TODAY, saying, “We are disappointed in the U.S. Attorney’s Office’s decision to pursue what we believe is an unjustified prosecution of Mr. Combs.”
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the music mogul was taken into custody after being indicted by a grand jury. The specific charges are not yet clear.
“Combs is a music icon, a self-made entrepreneur, a loving family man and a proven philanthropist who has spent the last 30 years building an empire, adoring his children and advocating for the advancement of the black community. He is not a perfect person, but he is not a criminal,” the statement continued. “To his credit, Mr. Combs has been consistently cooperative with this investigation and voluntarily relocated to New York last week in anticipation of these charges. Please reserve judgment until you know all of the facts. These are the actions of an innocent man with nothing to hide and he looks forward to clearing his name in court.”
Combs’ arrest follows a series of legal troubles for the Bad Boy Records founder. Several lawsuits have been filed against Combs in recent months alleging that the music magnate raped or sexually abused several alleged victims over the past few decades. Combs has denied all allegations against him.
Police search Sean “Diddy” Combs’ homes as part of federal investigation
In March, two of Combs’ homes were reportedly searched by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as part of a federal investigation.
According to Rolling Stone and local Los Angeles news station Fox 11, federal agents raided Combs’ home on March 25. Agents also raided the “Hello Good Morning” rapper’s Miami apartment the same day, according to reports from Rolling Stone, NBC News and The Associated Press.
When asked for comment on a case against Combs, a spokesperson for Homeland Security Investigations said in a statement to USA TODAY at the time that “Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York took police action as part of an ongoing investigation, with assistance from HSI Los Angeles, HSI Miami and our local law enforcement partners.”
According to NBC News, the Los Angeles Times and the AP, the searches were part of an ongoing sex trafficking investigation in New York. According to NBC News and the AP, several people were questioned by investigators about the allegations against Combs, which involve sex trafficking, sexual harassment and other alleged crimes.
Sean “Diddy” Combs’ lawyer describes house searches as a “witch hunt”
Aaron Dyer, an attorney for Combs who specializes in white collar investigations and white collar criminal law, told USA TODAY on March 26 that the music mogul is innocent and criticized the federal raid on his homes.
“There was a massive abuse of military force in the execution of search warrants on Mr. Combs’ residences,” Dyer said in a statement. “This unprecedented ambush – coupled with a sophisticated, coordinated media presence – leads to a premature conviction of Mr. Combs and is nothing more than a witch hunt based on baseless allegations in civil cases.”
Dyer added that no family member of the rapper was arrested during the raid.
Lawyer for Sean “Diddy” Combs’ ex-girlfriend welcomes federal raids after lawsuit
Douglas Wigdor, an attorney for Combs’ ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, issued a statement on March 25 after reports surfaced about the search warrant for Combs.
In November 2023, Ventura filed a sexual assault lawsuit against Combs, accusing him of rape, sex trafficking, and physical abuse. Combs and Ventura agreed to a settlement for an undisclosed amount a day after the lawsuit was filed.
“We will always support law enforcement as they seek to prosecute those who have broken the law,” Wigdor said. “Hopefully this is the beginning of a process that will hold Mr. Combs accountable for his reprehensible conduct.”
Contributor: Naledi Ushe, USA TODAY
