CNN
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Authorities searched Sean “Diddy” Combs’ houses 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 regulation 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’ Transnational Organized Crime Division, the official informed CNN.
The investigation stems from lots of the identical sexual assault allegations put forth in a number of civil lawsuits in opposition to Combs, based on a second regulation enforcement supply conversant in Monday’s searches. Combs has beforehand denied these allegations.
Closely armed groups of HSI brokers searched Combs’ houses in Los Angeles and the Miami space Monday – some using in armored automobiles, partly as a result of authorities believed Combs employs armed personal safety at every of his residences, the primary supply mentioned.
Brokers had been licensed to seek for paperwork, telephones, computer systems and different digital units that maintain information or movies, the second regulation enforcement supply mentioned.
A regulation enforcement supply earlier informed CNN that Monday’s searches had been associated to an ongoing intercourse trafficking investigation.
HSI in New York mentioned Monday it “executed regulation enforcement actions as a part of an ongoing investigation” in cooperation with native regulation enforcement and HSI models in Los Angeles and Miami, and would “present additional data because it turns into obtainable.”
Combs’ representatives haven’t responded to CNN’s requests for touch upon the searches.
Eric Thayer/AP
Regulation enforcement officers trip a car close to a property belonging to Sean “Diddy” Combs on Monday in Los Angeles.
Combs has been accused of sexual misconduct in 5 separate lawsuits filed in current 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 in opposition to Combs, her former boyfriend, in federal court docket in New York’s Southern District. The swimsuit 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 swimsuit days later.
The choice to settle the swimsuit was “on no account an admission of wrongdoing,” Ben Brafman, an legal professional for Combs, informed CNN in a press release on the time. “Mr. Combs’ resolution to settle the lawsuit doesn’t in any manner undermine his flat-out denial of the claims. He’s blissful they bought to a mutual settlement and needs Ms. Ventura the very best.”
Every week later, Joi Dickerson-Neal filed a swimsuit 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.
“I’ve sat silently and watched individuals attempt to assassinate my character, destroy my popularity and my legacy,” Combs mentioned in response to the December swimsuit. “Sickening allegations have been made in opposition to me by people searching for a fast payday. Let me be completely clear: I didn’t do any of the terrible issues being alleged.”
Most lately, considered one of Combs’ former staff, producer and videographer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones, filed a lawsuit final month accusing Combs of sexual assault and main a “widespread and harmful prison intercourse trafficking group,” amongst different allegations. The swimsuit was filed in federal court docket in New York’s southern district.
Combs’ legal professional denied the allegations and known as Jones’ claims “lies.”
“His reckless name-dropping about occasions which might be pure fiction and easily didn’t occur is nothing greater than a clear try and garner headlines. Now we have overwhelming, indeniable proof that his claims are full lies,” Diddy’s legal professional, Shawn Holley, mentioned final month.
Armed regulation enforcement officers had been seen round Combs’ residences Monday in Los Angeles’ Holmby Hills neighborhood and Miami Seashore’s unique group of Star Island, CNN crews reported.
Not less than one armored regulation enforcement car was seen arriving on the Los Angeles property, and brokers had been processing paperwork on card tables outdoors the Miami-area house. Cellular command submit automobiles had been seen at each properties.
The exercise on the Star Island property was a search warrant execution, a Homeland Safety Investigations consultant in Miami informed CNN.
HSI – the Division of Homeland Safety’s lead investigative arm – is accountable for investigating transnational crime and threats, together with human trafficking. It additionally handles instances of terrorism, narcotics smuggling and different organized prison exercise.
HSI investigators departed the Star Island house outdoors Miami simply earlier than 11 p.m. Monday, a CNN crew reported.
It is a growing story and will likely be up to date.
CNN’s Josh Campbell, Holmes Lybrand, Elizabeth Wagmeister and Carlos Suarez contributed to this report.