Sean “Diddy” Combs’ lawyer says the music mogul cooperated with authorities after his homes were raided by federal agents, but adds that “there was a gross overuse of military-level force” used when the raids occurred.
A month after Combs was sued for sex trafficking and other allegations, agents raided the Grammy winner’s homes on Monday in Los Angeles, New York and Miami. A representative for Homeland Security Investigations New York said in a statement that the raids were executed “as part of an ongoing investigation, with assistance from HSI Los Angeles, HSI Miami and our local law enforcement partners.”
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On Tuesday, Combs’ attorney, Aaron Dyer, called the raids “gross” and said the “unprecedented ambush [was] paired with an advanced, coordinated media presence.”
“Yesterday, there was a gross overuse of military-level force as search warrants were executed at Mr. Combs’ residences. There is no excuse for the excessive show of force and hostility exhibited by authorities or the way his children and employees were treated. Mr. Combs was never detained but spoke to and cooperated with authorities. Despite media speculation, neither Mr. Combs nor any of his family members have been arrested nor has their ability to travel been restricted in any way,” Dyer said.
“This unprecedented ambush — paired with an advanced, coordinated media presence — leads to a premature rush to judgment of Mr. Combs and is nothing more than a witch hunt based on meritless accusations made in civil lawsuits. There has been no finding of criminal or civil liability with any of these allegations. Mr. Combs is innocent and will continue to fight every single day to clear his name,” he continued.
The events come about one month after Combs was served a sexual assault lawsuit from producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones, who accused Combs of harassing and trafficking him. The complaint was the fifth suit filed against the rapper since his former longtime partner and recording artist Cassie, who sued him in November for sexual assault, said he repeatedly raped and physically abused her for nearly a decade. They later reached a settlement.
Cassie’s lawyer, Douglas Wigdor, said Monday that “we will always support law enforcement when it seeks to prosecute those that have violated the law. Hopefully, this is the beginning of a process that will hold Mr. Combs responsible for his depraved conduct.”
Subsequent suits against Combs include accusations from a woman who was a minor at the time of the alleged assault and a claim that Combs forced Jones to solicit sex workers for the Bad Boy Records founder. Multiple suits also alleged that Combs drugged his victims, and one included a claim that he choked a woman until she passed out, later urging her not to report the incident.
Combs has consistently denied all allegations, saying in a statement last December that “I did not do any of the awful things being alleged.”
