Sean 'Diddy' Combs arrested amid ongoing sex trafficking probe
Music mogul Sean 'Diddy' Combs has been arrested in Manhattan, New York, following a grand jury indictment. Combs, who had been in NYC since last week, was apprehended Monday evening at the Park Hyatt Hotel at around 8:15pm, reportedly. Although the charges remain unclear, the Grammy-winning artist was taken to the FBI offices in Manhattan, per Variety. The FBI has yet to confirm or deny his arrest.
Combs's lawyer criticized 'unjust prosecution'
Combs's attorney—Marc Agnifilo—expressed disappointment over the decision to prosecute his client, describing it as unjust. In a statement, Agnifilo said, "Sean is a music icon, self-made entrepreneur, loving family man, and proven philanthropist who has spent the last 30 years building an empire, adoring his children, and working to uplift the Black community." He further added that Combs has cooperated fully with the investigation and voluntarily relocated to New York in anticipation of the charges. His team maintains his innocence.
Arrest linked to previous raids on Combs's properties
According to sources, Combs's arrest is connected to the raids that occurred earlier this year in March at his residences in Los Angeles and Miami. The US Attorney's Office had assembled a grand jury for the Combs case in recent weeks. An indictment is expected to be made public by Tuesday or later this week. Damian Williams, US Attorney, stated: "We expect to move to unseal the indictment in the morning and will have more to say at that time."
Combs's properties raided in sex trafficking investigation
To recall, in March, properties owned by Combs in Miami and Los Angeles were searched by Homeland Security as part of a sex trafficking investigation. HSI confirmed the searches and seizures in a statement, saying they were part of an ongoing investigation. Combs's attorney, Aaron Dyer, had criticized the searches at the time, describing them as an "unprecedented ambush" and a "witch hunt."
Combs faces multiple lawsuits alleging sexual assault
Further, Combs's arrest comes amid a federal investigation and a series of lawsuits accusing him of sexual assault. Dawn Richard, a former member of the band Danity Kane, recently filed a lawsuit against Combs on September 10. The suit alleges verbal abuse, assault, sexual battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Combs has consistently denied any wrongdoing in response to the allegations made in these cases since November last year.
