Diddy’s lawyer complains of ‘gross abuse of military force’ in raids on music mogul’s homes

LOS ANGELES (AP) – A lawyer for Sean “Diddy” Combs said Tuesday that searches of the rapper’s properties in Los Angeles and Miami by federal authorities as part of a sex trafficking investigation constituted “an egregious use of force at the military level” and that Combs ” innocent and can proceed to fight” to clear his name.

This is the primary public statement from the music mogul’s team since Monday’s raids on his homes by Homeland Security Investigations agents.

“Yesterday, there was a gross misuse of military force in connection with the execution of search warrants on Mr. Combs’ property,” said attorney Aaron Dyer. “There is no excuse for the excessive show of force and hostility by the authorities or the way in which his children and employees were treated.”

The searches were part of an ongoing sex trafficking investigation by federal authorities in New York, two law enforcement officials told The Associated Press. The officials weren’t authorized to publicly discuss details of the investigation and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.

Dyer’s statement said Combs was not detained or spoke to authorities, neither he nor any of his relations were arrested or had their travel restricted.

Dyer said the “unprecedented ambush” led to “a premature rush to judgment in Mr. Combs’ case and is nothing more than a witch hunt based on baseless accusations made in civil lawsuits.”

“No criminal or civil liability has been established in connection with any of these allegations,” Dyer said. “Mr. Combs is innocent and will fight every day to clear his name.”

Combs’ sons, Justin and Christian “King” Combs, were handcuffed during a raid on their father’s Los Angeles residence. King, 25, is a music artist whose song “Can’t Stop Won’t Stop” with Kodak Black topped Billboard’s 2022 mainstream hip-hop R&B charts.

Law enforcement raided Combs’ multimillion-dollar mansion in the affluent Holmby Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles and his waterfront home in Miami on Monday. Due to the massive presence of officers, command vehicles were parked in front of each properties.

The criminal investigation has resulted in a major escalation of the investigation into Combs, who has been a defendant in several sexual abuse trials in recent months.

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In Combs’ lawsuit, settled a day after it was filed in November, his former protégé and girlfriend, R&B singer Cassie, sued him, alleging years of sexual abuse, including rape. The lawsuit said he forced her to have sex with male prostitutes while he filmed them.

In February, the music producer filed a lawsuit alleging that Combs forced him to acquire prostitutes and pressured him to have sex with them.

Combs’ other accuser was a lady who claimed the rap producer raped her twenty years ago when she was 17.

Combs and his lawyers have denied all allegations made in the lawsuit.

The AP typically doesn’t name individuals who say they’ve been sexually abused unless they arrive forward publicly, as Cassie did.

Combs is one of essentially the most influential hip-hop producers and executives of the last three many years. Formerly referred to as Puff Daddy, he built one of hip-hop’s largest empires, leading the way in which with several entities associated along with his famous name. He is the founder of Bad Boy Records and a three-time Grammy Award winner who has worked with many top artists, including Notorious B.I.G., Mary J. Blige, Usher, Lil Kim, Faith Evans and 112.

Combs’ network of non-music businesses, which incorporates lucrative private label alcoholic beverages, fashion sportswear and a television network, has been unraveling since harassment lawsuits began to return to light.

Its vodka and tequila take care of Diageo, a serious producer of distilled spirits, formally fell apart in January when the 2 sides settled mutual lawsuits, leaving the brands in Diageo’s hands.

His fashion line, Sean John, disappeared from Macy’s, one of the road’s predominant partners; Sean John items remain on the market at Walmart, although many are heavily discounted or only available in custom sizes.

Last November, Combs resigned as president of Revolt TV, which focuses on music and social justice issues for African Americans.