Attorneys for Sean “Diddy” Combs claimed on Tuesday that federal investigators’ searches on the rap mogul’s US residences constituted a “unprecedented ambush” and that the raids were a part of “a witch hunt based on meritless accusations.”
Armed agents from Homeland Security Investigations stormed Combs’s two opulent houses on Monday. Combs is the target of sex trafficking allegations and lawsuits alleging sex abuse.
Attorney Aaron Dyer told US media in a statement that “search warrants were executed at Mr. Combs’ residences yesterday, and there was a gross overuse of military-level force.”
“This unprecedented ambush — paired with an advanced, coordinated media presence — leads to a premature rush to judgment of Mr Combs and is nothing more than a witch hunt based on meritless accusations made in civil lawsuits,” Dyer stated.
The purpose of the raids has not been disclosed by the authorities.
However, Combs is the subject of multiple legal cases portraying him as a violent sexual predator who subdued his victims with drugs and drink.
At least four lawsuits claiming decades-old allegations of sexual assault against him have been filed against him.
Combs was sued last year by his ex-girlfriend Casandra Ventura, who was signed to his Bad Boy label and went by the stage name Cassie.
According to the lawsuit, he coerced her into having intercourse with several guys in several American cities over an extended period of time.
After that lawsuit was resolved, more were filed, one in December by a woman who claimed Combs had sexually assaulted her when she was seventeen and that he and other people had done it in a gang.
Combs, who has not been found guilty of any crimes, refutes every accusation.
“With regard to any of these allegations, no criminal or civil responsibility has been determined. Dyer declared on Tuesday that “Mr. Combs is innocent and will continue to fight every single day to clear his name.”
Not only was there “no excuse for the excessive show of force and hostility exhibited by authorities,” but the lawyer added that Combs and his family members were not detained.
Combs, better known as Diddy or Puff Daddy, was in Miami on Monday and spoke with agents, according to a law enforcement source who spoke to AFP. However, the source clarified Combs had not been taken into custody.
The rapper’s sons Justin and King Combs seemed to be handcuffed at his Los Angeles property in aerial photos that were captured on Monday.
Combs’ Los Angeles house seemed to have had laptops and other electronic equipment stolen, according to new photos that the celebrity website TMZ released on Tuesday.
However, it was revealed on Tuesday that Combs’ opulent private plane touched down in Antigua, a Caribbean island, just hours after his US residences were searched.
US media reported on Tuesday that Combs was not on board the Gulfstream V, releasing images of the plane in the tropical retreat.
The aircraft, identified as LoveAir, was seen to have taken off on Monday from an airport in southern California, according to flight tracking data.
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