NEW YORK — Music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs was arrested at a midtown Manhattan hotel on Monday as part of a federal investigation into alleged sex trafficking and other possible crimes, according to reports. His arrest, originally scheduled for Tuesday, was moved up for unspecified reasons.
Authorities reportedly searched Combs’ homes in Miami and Beverly Hills in connection with the investigation. Details of the charges have not been fully disclosed, but the arrest comes amid a mounting legal battle for the hip-hop icon.
“We are disappointed with the decision to pursue what we believe is an unjust prosecution of Mr. Combs by the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” Combs’ attorney, March Agnifio, told TMZ. “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, adoring his children, and working to uplift the Black community. He is an imperfect person but is not a criminal.”
Agnifio stressed Combs’ cooperation with the investigation, noting that he had relocated to New York last week in anticipation of the charges. “These are the acts of an innocent man with nothing to hide, and he looks forward to clearing his name in court,” the attorney said.
The arrest follows a recent civil lawsuit filed against Combs by singer-songwriter Dawn Richard, a former member of the girl group Danity Kane and Dirty Money. Richard’s lawsuit accuses Combs of physical abuse, sexual assault, and a series of disturbing incidents spanning from 2009 to 2011.
According to the suit, Richard alleges that Combs forced her to endure grueling rehearsals, leading to extreme fatigue and health issues. She also claims that Combs once greeted her at his Miami home in nothing but underwear and that he forcibly entered her dressing room, groping her.
Richard’s lawsuit further claims Combs exhibited violent behavior toward his ex-girlfriend, Cassie. Richard alleges that she witnessed Combs physically assaulting Cassie by choking her and dragging her during a drug-fueled episode at his Los Angeles home. Richard also claims that Combs threw a hot pan of eggs at Cassie during another incident.
Richard alleges that when she and fellow bandmate Kalenna Harper advised Cassie to leave Combs, he retaliated with threats. According to Richard, Combs told them, “Y’all bitches don’t get in my relationship… Just make money and shut the fuck up,” and warned that he could end their careers or worse. “You bitches want to die today,” he allegedly told them.
Combs has strongly denied the allegations, calling them a “manufactured series of false claims all in the hopes of trying to get a payday,” according to a statement to Complex last week.
As the legal proceedings unfold, Combs’ defense team is urging the public to reserve judgment until all facts are presented in court.
