Sean "Diddy" Combs' attorney, Aaron Dyer, has spoken out against the "gross overuse of military-level force" during federal raids on the musician's homes in Los Angeles and Miami on Monday. The searches were part of an ongoing human trafficking investigation led by the Department of Homeland Security Investigations' (HSI) Transnational Organized Crime Division, according to a senior federal law enforcement official briefed on the investigation.
In a statement provided to CNN on Tuesday, Dyer criticized the "excessive show of force and hostility exhibited by authorities" and the treatment of Combs' children and employees during the raids. He emphasized that Combs was "never detained" but cooperated with authorities and that neither the musician nor his family members have been arrested or had their ability to travel restricted.
Dyer characterized the raids as an "unprecedented ambush" and a "witch hunt based on meritless accusations made in civil lawsuits." He stated that there has been no finding of criminal or civil liability in connection with the allegations and that Combs is "innocent and will continue to fight every single day to clear his name."
The investigation stems from many of the same sexual assault allegations put forth in several civil lawsuits against Combs, according to a second law enforcement source familiar with Monday's searches. Combs has previously denied those allegations.
HSI agents, some riding in armored vehicles, searched Combs' homes in Los Angeles and the Miami area, believing that the rapper employs armed private security at each of his residences. Agents were authorized to search for documents, phones, computers, and other electronic devices that hold data or videos, the second law enforcement source said.
In recent months, Combs has been accused of sexual misconduct in five separate lawsuits, which he has repeatedly denied. These include suits filed by singer Casandra "Cassie" Ventura, Joi Dickerson-Neal, an anonymous woman referred to as Jane Doe, former employee Rodney "Lil Rod" Jones, and Liza Gardner.
In a December statement, Combs denied the claims in all the suits, stating, "Enough is enough. For the last couple of weeks, I have sat silently and watched people try to assassinate my character, destroy my reputation and my legacy. Sickening allegations have been made against me by individuals looking for a quick payday. Let me be absolutely clear: I did not do any of the awful things being alleged. I will fight for my name, my family and for the truth."
Separately, a 25-year-old man who is part of Combs' circle, Brendan Paul, was arrested on drug charges at Miami-Opa locka Executive Airport on Monday while HSI investigators executed the search warrants. Paul, a former Syracuse University basketball player, was charged with possession of cocaine and marijuana-laced candy. His attorney, Brian Bieber, stated that they do not plan on trying the case in the media and that all issues will be dealt with in court.
In a related development, music producer Rodney Jones, who sued Combs for sexual assault in February, added actor Cuba Gooding Jr. to his complaint on Monday. Jones accused Gooding of "sexually harassing and assaulting" him during a party on a yacht rented by Combs in the U.S. Virgin Islands in January 2023.
As the federal investigation into the human trafficking allegations against Combs continues, the rapper and his legal team remain steadfast in their denial of the accusations and their commitment to fighting the charges. The high-profile raids and the ongoing legal battles serve as a reminder of the intense scrutiny faced by celebrities when confronted with serious allegations of misconduct.
