Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ homes have been raided by US law enforcement. Here’s what we know

The newest headlines from our reporters throughout the US despatched straight to your inbox every weekday

Your briefing on the newest headlines from throughout the US

Homes belonging to Sean “Diddy” Combs in Los Angeles and Miami have been raided by officials from US Homeland Security on Monday, 25 March.

The rapper and music mogul – who’s credited with serving to launch the careers of artists together with Biggie Smalls, Mary J Blige and Usher – has confronted a string of varying accusations in the past six months, together with sexual assault.

Right here’s every thing you have to know:

Why are the properties being raided?

Combs’ Los Angeles mansion is within the upmarket Holmby Hills space, close to Bel Air and Beverly Hills, whereas his Miami Seaside house is situated on the unique Star Island.

The raids are “in reference to a federal intercourse trafficking investigation” in line with Fox 11, who have been first to report on the raids.

In an announcement issued on Monday, Homeland Safety stated: “Earlier right now, Homeland Safety Investigations New York executed law enforcement actions as a part of an ongoing investigation with help from HSI Los Angeles, HSI Miami and our native legislation enforcement companions.

“We’ll present additional info because it turns into obtainable.”

NBC Information cited an unnamed supply as saying that three ladies and a person have been interviewed by federal officers in Manhattan and three different interviews are scheduled regarding allegations of intercourse trafficking, sexual assault, and the solicitation and distribution of unlawful narcotics and firearms.

It stays unconfirmed whether or not Combs himself is the main target of the investigation,

Fox 11 has additionally shared video footage of the raid taken from an overhead helicopter that reveals a number of people in handcuffs exterior the property, together with two males.

What are the accusations in opposition to Combs?

The rapper and music mogul, 54, has confronted a string of sexual assault allegations in latest months.

In February, a male music producer accused Combs of sexually assaulting him and forcing him to sleep with intercourse staff.

The lawsuit, filed in federal courtroom in New York, accused the music mogul of repeated cases of unsolicited groping and sexual touching. It additionally stated that the person needed to work in a rest room whereas Combs showered and walked round bare.

One other lawsuit, filed in December, alleged that Combs had gang-raped a 17-year-old lady in 2003.

The plaintiff, recognized as Jane Doe, accused Combs of plying her with medication and alcohol at his New York studio after which raping her together with two associates.

The go well with accused Combs of a “intercourse trafficking scheme,” through which Jane Doe was flown by non-public jet from her house in Michigan to New York.

Combs has vehemently denied all accusations in opposition to him.

Lawsuit with Cassie

In November, he and R&B singer Cassie, whose full title is Cassandra Ventura, settled a lawsuit after she claimed that she was trafficked, raped and crushed by the rapper on many events over 10 years.

Her lawsuit alleged that Combs introduced the singer into his “ostentatious, fast-paced, and drug-fueled life-style” not lengthy after she met him, and signed her to his label when she was 19 and he was 37 in 2005.

Cassie stated that the sample of abuse started as quickly as their relationship began and that, as she was attempting to finish it in 2018, he pressured her into her Los Angeles house and raped her.

Her accusations in opposition to Combs have been introduced by means of the New York Grownup Survivors Act (ASA), which expired at midnight on 23 November 2023

The act offered survivors a one-year window to pursue civil litigation no matter when the abuse occurred, which means incidents from many years have been lastly delivered to mild.

Over 2,500 circumstances have been filed underneath the ASA earlier than its expiry at midnight on 23 November 2023, courtroom knowledge despatched to The Impartial confirmed.

Survivors introduced lawsuits in opposition to a few of the state’s strongest males, together with main gamers in leisure, akin to Invoice Cosby, Harvey Weinstein, Axl Rose, and Combs.

What has Combs stated?

The mogul has strongly denied all of the accusations in opposition to him and vowed to “struggle for my title, my household and for the reality.”

In an announcement in December, following the lawsuit introduced by Jane Doe, he known as the claims “sickening” and stated his accusers have been “searching for a fast payday”.

“Let me be completely clear: I didn’t do any of the terrible issues being alleged,” he stated in an announcement. “I’ll struggle for my title, my household and for the reality.”

Combs’s lawyer, Shawn Holley, branded the occasions described within the lawsuit as “pure fiction”.

“We have now overwhelming, indeniable proof that his claims are full lies,” he stated. “We’ll deal with these outlandish allegations in courtroom and take all applicable motion in opposition to those that make them.”

Following the settlement with Ventura, Ben Brafman, one other lawyer for Combs, informed The Impartial: “Simply so we’re clear, a choice to settle a lawsuit, particularly in 2023, is on no account an admission of wrongdoing.

“Mr. Combs’s choice to settle the lawsuit doesn’t in any approach undermine his flat-out denial of the claims.

“He’s comfortable they acquired to a mutual settlement and needs Ms Ventura the very best.”