Federal Homeland Security Investigations agents, alongside other law enforcement personnel, conducted searches on Monday at two properties owned by music mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs in Los Angeles and Miami.
These searches are part of an ongoing sex trafficking investigation being carried out by federal authorities in New York, according to two law enforcement officials.
While it remains unclear whether Combs himself is the primary target of the investigation, the officials emphasized that they were not authorized to publicly discuss the specifics of the ongoing probe.
In response to queries regarding the operation, Homeland Security Investigations released a statement confirming their involvement in executing law enforcement actions as part of the investigation, with assistance from HSI Los Angeles, HSI Miami, and local law enforcement partners. However, the U.S. attorney's office in Manhattan declined to comment on the matter.
Efforts to obtain comments from Combs' legal representatives and other representatives were not immediately successful, as messages seeking clarification were left unanswered.
The Los Angeles property, located in the affluent Holmby Hills neighbourhood near Beverly Hills, was cordoned off by police, and helicopter footage from KABC-TV revealed the presence of Homeland Security Investigations agents in the backyard of the residence. A command post was established outside the house, with agents seen entering and leaving the premises throughout the day.
Combs has been the target of multiple sexual assault lawsuits in recent months.
A music producer sued Combs in February, claiming the artist forced him to approach prostitutes and forced him to have sex with them. Regarding those accusations, Combs' lawyer Shawn Holley stated, "We have overwhelming, indisputable proof that his claims are complete lies."
R&B singer Cassie, Combs' erstwhile protégé and girlfriend, filed a lawsuit against him in November, claiming years of sexual abuse—including rape—had occurred. He allegedly made her have sex with male prostitutes while filming them, according to the lawsuit. The day following its filing, the lawsuit was settled.
