Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs breaks silence after home raids: ‘A gross overuse of military-level force’
The raids on the homes in Los Angeles and Miami were carried out by US Homeland Security agents
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Sean “Diddy” Combs has broken his silence following raids on two of his homes, describing the actions of US Homeland Security agents as a “gross overuse of military-level force”.
Lawyers for the rapper and music mogul said there was “no excuse” for the “hostility” shown by authorities towards Combs’ children and staff members at the two properties.
The raids occurred on Monday at the hip-hop star’s mansion in the Holmby Hills area of Los Angeles, California, and his Miami Beach home on Star Island, in Florida.
A statement from Homeland Security said law enforcement actions had been “executed as part of an ongoing investigation with assistance from HSI Los Angeles, HSI Miami and our local law enforcement partners.”
On Tuesday, Combs’s lawyer Aaron Dyers said: “Yesterday, there was a gross overuse of military-level force as search warrants were executed at Mr Combs’ residences.
“There is no excuse for the excessive show of force and hostility exhibited by authorities or the way his children and employees were treated.”
Mr Dyers’ statement was the first to be made publicly by the music mogul’s team since the raids.
Combs was not detained and spoke to authorities, and neither he nor any family members were arrested, nor has their travel been restricted, according to Dyer’s statement.
Mr Dyers said the “unprecedented ambush” has led 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.”
“There has been no finding of criminal or civil liability with any of these allegations,” Mr Dyers said. “Mr Combs is innocent and will continue to fight every single day to clear his name.”
Combs’ sons, Justin and Christian “King” Combs, were handcuffed during the raid at their father’s residence in Los Angeles.
The criminal investigation is a major escalation in the scrutiny of Combs, who has been the defendant in several sexual abuse lawsuits in recent months. Speculation as to his whereabouts has circulated since the raids.
Information about a private jet belonging to the rapper was removed from a popular flight tracking website on Tuesday, though prior information showed it had landed in Antigua.
A statement on FlightAware.com read: “This aircraft (N1969C) is not available for public tracking per request from the owner/operator.”
In February, music producer Rodney Jones accused Combs of sexually assaulting him and forcing him to sleep with sex workers.
The lawsuit, filed in federal court in New York, accused the music mogul of repeated instances of unsolicited groping and sexual touching. It also said that the man had to work in a bathroom while Combs showered and walked around naked.
The lawsuit was amended on Monday to include actor Cuba Gooding Jr. The Independent has reached out to representatives of Combs and Gooding Jr for comment about the lawsuit.
Combs has previously denied all the accusations against him and vowed to “fight for my name, my family and for the truth.”
He is among the most influential hip-hop producers and executives of the past three decades.
Formerly known as Puff Daddy, he built one of hip-hop’s biggest empires, blazing a trail with several entities attached to his famous name. He is the founder of Bad Boy Records and a three-time Grammy winner who has worked with a slew of top-tier artists including Biggie Smalls, Mary J Blige and Usher.