Police raids on two properties owned by rapper Sean „Diddy“ Combs were an „unprecedented ambush“, his lawyer has said.
Combs‘ homes in Los Angeles and Miami were searched by officers on Monday.
The searches were connected to a sex trafficking investigation by federal authorities in New York, US news outlets reported yesterday.
In a statement released on behalf of the rapper, his lawyer Aaron Dyer said: „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. 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.“
Diddy’s homes raided
Sean Combs‘ home in Los Angeles is raided by federal law enforcement.
Sky’s US partner network NBC News understands that several phones were seized from Combs in Miami on Monday before he was scheduled to depart on a trip to the Bahamas.
According to NBC News, three women and a man have been interviewed by federal officials in Manhattan in relation to the sex-trafficking investigation and further allegations of sexual assault, solicitation and distribution of illegal narcotics and firearms.
Representatives for Combs did not immediately respond to NBC News‘ request for comment.
The American music mogul, 54, has been the subject of several lawsuits, including for sexual assault, in recent months.
Sean Combs‘ Los Angeles home raided by federal law enforcement.
In February, a music producer filed a lawsuit alleging Combs coerced him to solicit prostitutes and pressured him to have sex with them.
Combs‘ attorney said that for those allegations, „we have overwhelming, indisputable proof that his claims are complete lies“.
The rapper’s former protege and girlfriend, R&B singer Cassie, sued him in November alleging she was trafficked, raped, plied with drugs and beaten by Combs over a 10-year period.
The lawsuit said he forced her to have sex with male prostitutes while he filmed them. The suit was settled the day after it was filed.
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