The most recent headlines from our reporters throughout the US despatched straight to your inbox every weekdayYour briefing on the most recent headlines from throughout the USHomes belonging to Sean “Diddy” Combs in Los Angeles and Miami have been raided by officers from US Homeland Safety on Monday, 25 March.The rapper and music mogul – who’s credited with serving to launch the careers of artists together with Biggie Smalls, Mary J Blige and Usher – has confronted a string of various accusations previously six months, together with sexual assault.Right here’s every little thing you must know:Why are the properties being raided?Combs’ Los Angeles mansion is within the upmarket Holmby Hills space, close to Bel Air and Beverly Hills, whereas his Miami Seaside house is positioned on the unique Star Island.The raids are “in reference to a federal intercourse trafficking investigation” in line with Fox 11, who have been first to report on the raids.In a press release issued on Monday, Homeland Safety mentioned: “Earlier at the moment, Homeland Safety Investigations New York executed regulation enforcement actions as a part of an ongoing investigation with help from HSI Los Angeles, HSI Miami and our native regulation enforcement companions. “We’ll present additional data because it turns into out there.”Regulation enforcement officers outdoors a house owned by Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs in Los Angeles (AP)NBC Information cited an unnamed supply as saying that three girls and a person have been interviewed by federal officers in Manhattan and three different interviews are scheduled regarding allegations of intercourse trafficking, sexual assault, and the solicitation and distribution of unlawful narcotics and firearms.It stays unconfirmed whether or not Combs himself is the main focus of the investigation,Fox 11 has additionally shared video footage of the raid taken from an overhead helicopter that exhibits a number of people in handcuffs outdoors the property, together with two males.What are the accusations towards Combs?The rapper and music mogul, 54, has confronted a string of sexual assault allegations in latest months.In February, a male music producer accused Combs of sexually assaulting him and forcing him to sleep with intercourse employees.The lawsuit, filed in federal court docket in New York, accused the music mogul of repeated cases of unsolicited groping and sexual touching. It additionally mentioned that the person needed to work in a rest room whereas Combs showered and walked round bare.One other lawsuit, filed in December, alleged that Combs had gang-raped a 17-year-old woman in 2003. The plaintiff, recognized as Jane Doe, accused Combs of plying her with medication and alcohol at his New York studio after which raping her together with two associates. The go well with accused Combs of a “intercourse trafficking scheme,” through which Jane Doe was flown by personal jet from her residence in Michigan to New York.Combs has vehemently denied all accusations towards him.Lawsuit with CassieIn November, he and R&B singer Cassie, whose full title is Cassandra Ventura, settled a lawsuit after she claimed that she was trafficked, raped and overwhelmed by the rapper on many events over 10 years.Cassie (left) and Sean “Diddy” Combs on the 2017 Met Gala (Getty Photos)Her lawsuit alleged that Combs introduced the singer into his “ostentatious, fast-paced, and drug-fueled life-style” not lengthy after she met him, and signed her to his label when she was 19 and he was 37 in 2005.Cassie mentioned that the sample of abuse started as quickly as their relationship began and that, as she was attempting to finish it in 2018, he pressured her into her Los Angeles residence and raped her.Her accusations towards Combs have been introduced by the New York Grownup Survivors Act (ASA), which expired at midnight on 23 November 2023The act offered survivors a one-year window to pursue civil litigation no matter when the abuse occurred, that means incidents from a long time have been lastly dropped at mild. Over 2,500 instances have been filed below the ASA earlier than its expiry at midnight on 23 November 2023, court docket knowledge despatched to The Impartial confirmed.Survivors introduced lawsuits towards a few of the state’s strongest males, together with main gamers in leisure, akin to Invoice Cosby, Harvey Weinstein, Axl Rose, and Combs.What has Combs mentioned?The mogul has strongly denied all of the accusations towards him and vowed to “combat for my title, my household and for the reality.”In a press release in December, following the lawsuit introduced by Jane Doe, he referred to as the claims “sickening” and mentioned his accusers have been “on the lookout for a fast payday”.“Let me be completely clear: I didn’t do any of the terrible issues being alleged,” he mentioned in a press release. “I’ll combat for my title, my household and for the reality.”Combs has vehemently denied all of the accusations towards him (Getty Photos for MTV)Combs’s lawyer, Shawn Holley, branded the occasions described within the lawsuit as “pure fiction”.“We’ve overwhelming, indeniable proof that his claims are full lies,” he mentioned. “We’ll handle these outlandish allegations in court docket and take all acceptable motion towards those that make them.”Following the settlement with Ventura, Ben Brafman, one other legal professional for Combs, instructed The Impartial: “Simply so we’re clear, a choice to settle a lawsuit, particularly in 2023, is by no means an admission of wrongdoing. “Mr. Combs’s determination to settle the lawsuit doesn’t in any manner undermine his flat-out denial of the claims.“He’s glad they acquired to a mutual settlement and needs Ms Ventura the perfect.”