Editor’s Note: Follow live updates on the arrest of Sean “Diddy” Combs.
Music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, who faced a series of sexual assault lawsuits and a federal human trafficking investigation last year, has been arrested, the producer’s lawyer said at CNN.
Combs was arrested Monday evening at the Park Hyatt hotel in Manhattan and taken into custody by Homeland Security Investigations, a source familiar with negotiations for his surrender told CNN.
The charges and details of the case against Combs are unclear.
The arrest was made based on an indictment that is expected to be unsealed Tuesday morning, according to a statement from Damian Williams, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York.
HSI, the primary investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security, is responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, including human trafficking, terrorism, drug trafficking, and other organized criminal activities.
Combs has been in New York since last week, his lawyer said. Negotiations for his surrender were underway and a grand jury voted to indict him on Thursday, September 12, according to the source.
“We are disappointed in the decision to pursue what we consider to be an unfair prosecution of Mr. Combs by the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” Marc Agnifilo, Combs’ attorney, told CNN.
Combs’ attorney said the musician cooperated in the investigation that led to the indictment and that he “voluntarily moved to New York last week in anticipation of these charges.” His team maintains his innocence and says he has “nothing to hide”.
“Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is a music icon, self-made entrepreneur, loving family man and proven philanthropist who has spent the last 30 years building an empire, loving his children and working to uplift the black community . He’s an imperfect person but he’s not a criminal,” Agnifilo told CNN.
Agnifolo asked people to “please reserve judgment until you have all the facts.” These are the actions of an innocent man with nothing to hide, and he can’t wait to clear his name in court. »
Earlier this year, Combs became the target of a months-long sex trafficking investigation by Homeland Security Investigations, which led to dramatic searches of the musician’s homes in Los Angeles and Miami in March.
Following the searches at the home, a law enforcement source told CNN that the federal investigation stemmed from numerous sexual assault allegations made in several civil lawsuits against the producer. CNN has learned that the scope of the investigation is much broader, focusing on sex trafficking, money laundering and illegal drugs.
Since last November, Combs has been the subject of 10 lawsuits, including nine directly accusing him of sexual assault. As CNN has previously reported, several of these accusers met with federal investigators for questioning as part of the wide-ranging investigation.
CNN exclusively reported in May that federal investigators were preparing to bring Combs’ accusers before a federal grand jury for testimony — a significant escalation in the government probe that indicated the Justice Department was moving toward a possible indictment of the rapper and businessman.
Combs has previously denied all wrongdoing alleged in the various lawsuits. However, he issued a public apology after CNN exclusively aired surveillance footage earlier this year showing Combs brutally assaulting his former girlfriend, Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, at a Los Angeles hotel in March 2016.
“In response to the numerous inquiries we have received regarding the indictment of Sean Combs, neither Ms. Ventura nor I have any comment,” attorney Douglas Wigdor, who represents Ventura, said in a statement Tuesday.
“We appreciate your understanding and if this changes, we will certainly let you know,” Wigdor told CNN.
The attorney for three of Combs’ accusers — Lil Rod, April Lampros and Grace O’Marcaigh — called the arrest “highly anticipated.”
“We are leaving the criminal aspect of this matter in the hands of the public and the justice system,” attorney Tyrone Blackburn said in a statement Monday evening. “When it comes to civil cases, we wait for the facts to come to light and seek the justice our clients deserve.”
Blackburn said he expects more alleged victims to come forward.
“We knew this was going to happen. The evidence is very clear and it was only a matter of time. This is an important step toward justice for all of Mr. Combs’ victims, including my clients. Justice will prevail,” Blackburn added.
Combs faces series of civil lawsuits
While it’s unclear what evidence and allegations led to Combs’ arrest, the artist faces a series of civil lawsuits filed over the past year, all but one of which include allegations of sexual assault against him.
Just last week, Dawn Richard – a former member of the musical group Danity Kane – filed a lawsuit in New York accusing the producer of sexual assault, sexual harassment and false imprisonment, among other allegations.
Richard also alleged in the lawsuit that she saw Combs “brutally beat” Ventura, who filed and quickly settled his own lawsuit against Combs in November 2023.
One of Combs’ lawyers, Erica Wolff, denied Richard’s allegations in a statement to CNN and accused Richard of having financial motivations.
Another former Danity Kane member, Aubrey O’Day, reacted to the news of Combs’ arrest in a post on X Monday night.
“The purpose of Justice is to provide closure and give us the space to create a new chapter. Women never understand that. I feel validated. Today is a victory for women everywhere, not just me. Things are finally changing,” O’Day wrote.
Like Ventura, Danity Kane was represented by Combs’ Bad Boy label.
Combs has also repeatedly denied allegations made by Ventura, who said she was raped and subjected to years of physical and other abuse at the hands of Combs. However, Combs was seen earlier this year in a video published in 2016 by CNN grabbing, shoving, dragging and kicking Ventura. Two days after the video was posted, Combs apologized for his actions seen in the recording.
“It’s so hard to reflect on the darkest moments of your life, but sometimes you have to,” Combs said in a video statement posted to Instagram. “I was screwed – I hit rock bottom – but I can’t make any excuses. My behavior in this video is inexcusable.
He continued: “I take full responsibility for my actions in this video. I’m disgusted. So I was disgusted when I did it. I’m disgusted now.
The music mogul has faced increased public scrutiny since searches of his Los Angeles and Miami homes in March, which came weeks after a lawsuit was filed against him by Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones.
Jones, who worked as a videographer and producer for Combs, accuses Combs of sexual assault, sexual harassment and “grooming” and claims to have a video and audio recording of the musician and his crew “engaging in serious illegal activity.” , according to a complaint. filed in federal court in New York.
Among other allegations, Jones claims Combs forced him to recruit and interact with sex workers, threatened him and served alcoholic beverages laced with drugs to party guests.
Shawn Holley, Combs’ attorney, denied the allegations in a statement to CNN, calling Jones a “liar.”
“His reckless naming of events that are pure fiction and simply did not happen are nothing more than a transparent attempt to grab headlines. We have overwhelming and indisputable proof that his claims are complete lies,” Holley said in the statement.
One of the 10 lawsuits against Combs names him as a defendant but brings charges of sexual assault against Combs’ son, Christian Combs, by a woman who worked as a yacht crew member.
This story has been updated with additional information.
CNN’s Kara Scannell, John Miller and Amanda Jackson contributed to this report.
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