CNN
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An legal professional for Sean “Diddy” Combs, who’s the goal of a federal investigation, has spoken out concerning the searches that passed off at two of the musician’s properties on Monday.
Aaron Dyer, Diddy’s legal professional, stated in an announcement to CNN on Tuesday: “Yesterday, there was a gross overuse of military-level power as search warrants have been executed at Mr. Combs’ residences. There isn’t a excuse for the extreme present of power and hostility exhibited by authorities or the way in which his kids and workers have been handled.”
Authorities searched Combs’ properties on Monday as a result of he’s a goal of a federal investigation carried out by a Division of Homeland Safety crew that handles human trafficking crimes, based on a senior federal legislation enforcement official briefed on the investigation.
The probe is being led by the US legal professional for the Southern District of New York and carried out by the Division of Homeland Safety Investigations’ (HSI) Transnational Organized Crime Division, the official advised CNN. HSI is answerable for investigating transnational crime and threats, together with human trafficking, terrorism, narcotics smuggling and different organized legal exercise.
The investigation stems from most of the similar sexual assault allegations put forth in several civil lawsuits towards Combs, based on a second legislation enforcement supply acquainted with Monday’s searches. Combs has beforehand denied these allegations.
Closely armed groups of HSI brokers searched Combs’ properties in Los Angeles and the Miami space Monday – some using in armored automobiles, partly as a result of authorities believed Combs employs armed non-public safety at every of his residences, the primary supply stated.
Brokers have been processing paperwork on card tables exterior the Miami-area dwelling, and cell command submit automobiles have been seen at each properties.
Brokers have been approved to seek for paperwork, telephones, computer systems and different digital units that maintain knowledge or movies, the second legislation enforcement supply stated.
A legislation enforcement supply earlier advised CNN that Monday’s searches were related to an ongoing sex trafficking investigation.
HSI in New York stated Monday it “executed legislation enforcement actions as a part of an ongoing investigation” in cooperation with native legislation enforcement and HSI models in Los Angeles and Miami, and would “present additional data because it turns into out there.”
Dyer stated Combs was “by no means detained” through the searches “however spoke to and cooperated with authorities.”
“Regardless of media hypothesis, neither Mr. Combs nor any of his relations have been arrested nor has their potential to journey been restricted in any approach,” Dyer’s assertion stated. “This unprecedented ambush – paired with a sophisticated, coordinated media presence – results in a untimely rush to judgment of Mr. Combs and is nothing greater than a witch hunt based mostly on meritless accusations made in civil lawsuits.”
The assertion added: “There was no discovering of legal or civil legal responsibility with any of those allegations. Mr. Combs is harmless and can proceed to struggle each single day to clear his title.”
Combs and his twin teenage daughters have been making ready to depart Miami for a deliberate spring break journey on Monday when the searches occurred, a supply near Diddy and with direct information of the scenario advised CNN. The supply wouldn’t reveal Combs’ trip vacation spot or present whereabouts.
These near Diddy consider the size of the federal operation at his Los Angeles and Miami-area properties was “overzealous,” that supply stated. The supply echoed among the criticism of legislation enforcement’s actions outlined in Dyer’s assertion.
Diddy’s inside circle believes the media was tipped off about search of his Los Angeles dwelling as a result of a information helicopter was hovering above his residence earlier than legislation enforcement breached his property, the supply stated.
Combs has been accused of sexual misconduct in 5 separate lawsuits filed in latest months – allegations the star has repeatedly denied. It’s unclear which allegations are included within the federal probe.
In November, singer Casandra “Cassie” Ventura filed a lawsuit against Combs, her former boyfriend, in federal courtroom in New York’s southern district. The go well with alleged alleged Combs raped her, compelled her to interact in intercourse trafficking and subjected her to years of different abuses. The 2 events settled the suit days later.
The choice to settle the go well with was “by no means an admission of wrongdoing,” Ben Brafman, an legal professional for Combs, advised CNN in an announcement on the time. “Mr. Combs’ choice to settle the lawsuit doesn’t in any approach undermine his flat-out denial of the claims. He’s pleased they obtained to a mutual settlement and desires Ms. Ventura the very best.”
Per week later, Joi Dickerson-Neal filed a suit in New York accusing Combs of drugging and sexually assaulting her in 1991. She additionally alleged she was a sufferer of “revenge porn” by the music artist.
In December, an nameless lady known as Jane Doe filed a federal lawsuit accusing Combs of intercourse trafficking and gang rape in 2003, when she was 17.
In courtroom filings, Combs formally denied the allegations made within the December go well with. He advised the courtroom the lawsuit needs to be dismissed as a result of the lady’s “choice to attend greater than twenty years to file her criticism has prejudiced” him as a result of he has “misplaced the power to defend himself totally and pretty.” He additionally argued the proof could now be “unavailable, misplaced, or compromised” and that “witness identification, availability, and recollections are doubtless compromised because of the substantial passage of time.”
Additional, one in every of Combs’ former workers, producer and videographer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones, filed a lawsuit final month accusing Combs of sexual assault and main a “widespread and harmful legal intercourse trafficking group,” amongst different allegations. The go well with was filed in federal courtroom in New York’s southern district.
Combs’ legal professional denied the allegations and referred to as Jones’ claims “lies.”
“His reckless name-dropping about occasions which are pure fiction and easily didn’t occur is nothing greater than a clear try to garner headlines. Now we have overwhelming, indeniable proof that his claims are full lies,” Diddy’s legal professional, Shawn Holley, stated final month.
Moreover, in an amended criticism on March 12, initially filed in New York in November, Liza Gardner accused Combs and singer Aaron Corridor of battery and sexual assault in 1990, when she was 16 years previous.
In accordance with the go well with, Gardner and a buddy met Combs and Corridor, on the time a member of the R&B group Man, at an occasion. At a dinner afterward, Combs and Corridor have been “very flirtatious and handsy” with Gardner and her buddy and provided them drinks all through the night time, regardless of being underage, the go well with states.
Combs and Corridor then invited the 2 to Corridor’s residence for an afterparty, at which level Gardner was “provided extra drinks and was bodily compelled into having intercourse with Combs towards her will.” She was “shocked and traumatized,” the go well with states, and as she was getting dressed, Corridor got here into the room, pinned her down and compelled her to have intercourse. She then obtained dressed and ran out of the residence, the go well with states.
The following day, an “irate” Combs got here to the house the place she and her buddy have been staying and “started assaulting and choking Ms. Gardner to the purpose that she handed out,” the lawsuit states.
CNN has reached out to Corridor for remark. He has not but publicly spoken concerning the allegations.
In a December assertion, Combs denied the claims in all of the fits.
“Sufficient is sufficient. For the final couple of weeks, I’ve sat silently and watched folks attempt to assassinate my character, destroy my status and my legacy,” Combs said. “Sickening allegations have been made towards me by people in search of a fast payday. Let me be completely clear: I didn’t do any of the terrible issues being alleged. I’ll struggle for my title, my household and for the reality.”
A number of of the lawsuits allege that the misconduct was captured on video.
In Ventura’s go well with, she stated Combs used his telephone, laptop computer and pill to movie their sexual interactions. In Dickerson-Neal’s go well with, she alleged she was a sufferer of “revenge porn,” saying Combs filmed her sexual assault and confirmed the video to others. And in Jones’ go well with, he alleged he has “tons of of hours of footage and audio recordings of Mr. Combs, his employees, and his company partaking in severe criminal activity.”
Additionally Monday, a 25-year-old man who’s a part of Combs’ circle was arrested on drug expenses at Miami-Opa locka Government Airport, based on an arrest affidavit. Brendan Paul was taken into custody whereas HSI investigators executed search warrants at Combs’ properties in Miami Seashore and Los Angeles.
The arresting officers have been working with DHS and Customs and Border Safety, Paul’s arrest affidavit reads.
Paul, a former Syracuse University basketball player from Chagrin Falls, Ohio, was charged with possession of cocaine and marijuana-laced sweet. Miami-Dade cops stated the medication have been discovered inside his private journey baggage. Paul spent the night time at Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Middle and bonded out Tuesday morning, based on the Miami-Dade clerk of the courtroom and comptroller. Paul’s arraignment listening to is scheduled for April 24 at 9 a.m.
Combs’ title will not be talked about in Paul’s arrest affidavit.
Paul is referenced in Jones’ lawsuit towards Combs and different co-defendants, however Jones didn’t carry any claims towards Paul. Jones’ criticism describes Paul as “Mr. Combs’ mule” who “acquires, and distributes Mr. Combs’ medication, and weapons.”
“We don’t plan on making an attempt this case within the media – all points will likely be handled in courtroom,” Brian Bieber, an legal professional for Paul, advised CNN when requested for remark about Monday’s arrest and the allegations in Jones’ go well with.
This story has been up to date with extra data.
CNN’s Josh Campbell, Elizabeth Wagmeister, Nicki Brown and Holmes Lybrand contributed to this report.