Sean 'Diddy' Combs' lawyer says rapper is innocent, calls home raids 'a witch hunt'
A lawyer for Sean "Diddy" Combs is speaking out a day after the rapper's homes were searched by U.S. Homeland Security, calling them a "witch hunt based on meritless accusations."
Aaron Dyer, a corporate investigations and white-collar defense lawyer for Combs, said the music mogul is innocent and criticized the raids in a statement to USA TODAY on Tuesday. "Yesterday, there was a gross overuse of military-level force as search warrants were executed at Mr. Combs’ residences," Dyer said. "There is no excuse for the excessive show of force and hostility exhibited by authorities or the way his children and employees were treated."
Combs "was never detained but spoke to and cooperated with authorities," Dyer said, and none of the rapper's family members were arrested.
"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 continued.
"There has been no finding of criminal or civil liability with any of these allegations. Mr. Combs is innocent and will continue to fight every single day to clear his name."
Diddy investigated for sex trafficking:A timeline of allegations and the rapper's life, career
What we know about the raids at Diddy's homes
Federal officials raided Combs' Los Angeles home Monday, according to Rolling Stone and local Los Angeles news station Fox 11, amid lawsuits filed against him from accusers alleging the rapper and music mogul has raped or sexually assaulted them.
Agents also searched Combs' Miami residence Monday, Rolling Stone, NBC News and The Associated Press reported.
Who are Sean 'Diddy' Combs' children?See his family tree as the mogul faces assault claims, raids
When reached for comment regarding a case on Combs, a Homeland Security Investigations spokesperson said in a statement to USA TODAY Monday that "Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York executed law enforcement actions as part of an ongoing investigation, with assistance from HSI Los Angeles, HSI Miami, and our local law enforcement partners."
Per NBC News, the Los Angeles Times and the AP, the searches are part of an ongoing sex trafficking investigation in New York. Several people have been interviewed by investigators about allegations against Combs regarding sex trafficking, sexual assault and other alleged offenses, according to NBC News and the AP.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Manhattan declined to comment in response to questions from USA TODAY.
The Bad Boy Records founder is facing multiple lawsuits filed in recent months claiming the music mogul raped or sexually assaulted several alleged victims over the past few decades. Most recently, a music producer who worked with Combs on his most recent record, "The Love Album: Off the Grid," sued him in February, accusing him of "engaging in serious illegal activity" including sexual assault.
Combs has denied all accusations against him.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, RAINN’s National Sexual Assault Hotline offers free, confidential, 24/7 support to survivors and their loved ones in English and Spanish at: 800.656.HOPE (4673) and Hotline.RAINN.org and en Español RAINN.org/es.