The federal investigation into Sean "Diddy" Combs and bicoastal raids at his homes by federal agents have brought up questions about the rapper and hip-hop music mogul. Not much is known about what Homeland Security Investigations agents were looking for as they searched his Los Angeles and Miami homes Monday and whether Combs — who has not been arrested — might be charged with any crimes. Combs' lawyer, Aaron Dyer, maintains his client's innocence and criticized what he called "a "witch hunt based on meritless accusations" in a statement on Tuesday.
The only available context so far is the fact that the Bad Boy Records founder is facing multiple civil lawsuits filed in recent months that claim the music mogul raped or sexually assaulted several alleged victims over the past few decades. Combs has denied all accusations against him. According to the Los Angeles Times and the Associated Press , however, the searches are part of an ongoing sex trafficking investigation out of New York.
USA TODAY spoke with several legal experts about what the raids entailed, what they might mean for the music exec and businessman who revolutionized hip-hop and what the implications may be. Need a break? Diddy investigated for sex trafficking: A timeline of allegations and the rapper's life, career. On Monday afternoon, a helicopter for local Los Angeles news station Fox 11 captured footage overhead as dozens of law enforcement personnel fanned out on the grounds of what was purportedly Combs' Holmby Hills mansion in West LA.
Videos showed Homeland Security Investigations agents entering the home with their weapons drawn and removing several people who were inside while executing the search warrant. Los Angeles Police Department vehicles and officers also cordoned off the residential street to onlookers. According to Rebecca Lonergan, a professor of lawyering skills at USC Gould School of Law and associate director of the Legal Writing and Advocacy Program, HSI taking the helm in the raids — combined with the context of the recent civil lawsuits against Combs — means it's likely prosecutors are conducting a sex trafficking investigation that could potentially result in criminal charges.
Who are Sean 'Diddy' Combs' children? Family tree as mogul faces assault claims, raids. The raids could mean there's more legal action to come for Combs, says Judie Saunders , a partner with ASK LLP and an attorney who specializes in sex abuse and human trafficking cases. Combs — is that there could be pending charges that will be levied against him in the near future, him or his business.
