CNN
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Authorities searched Sean “Diddy” Combs’ homes on Monday as a result of he is a target of a federal investigation carried out by a Department of Homeland Security team that handles human trafficking crimes, based on a senior federal legislation enforcement official briefed on the investigation.
The probe is being led by the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York and carried out by the Department of Homeland Security Investigations’ (HSI) Transnational Organized Crime Division, the official advised CNN. HSI is answerable for investigating transnational crime and threats, together with human trafficking, terrorism, narcotics smuggling and different organized legal exercise.
The investigation stems from many of the identical sexual assault allegations put forth in several civil lawsuits in opposition to Combs, based on a second legislation enforcement source aware of Monday’s searches. Combs has beforehand denied these allegations.
Heavily armed groups of HSI brokers searched Combs’ properties in Los Angeles and the Miami space Monday – some driving in armored automobiles, in half as a result of authorities believed Combs employs armed non-public safety at every of his residences, the primary source stated.
Agents have been processing paperwork on card tables exterior the Miami-area dwelling, and cellular command publish automobiles have been seen at each properties.
Agents have been approved to seek for paperwork, telephones, computer systems and different digital gadgets that maintain information or movies, the second legislation enforcement source stated.
A legislation enforcement source earlier advised CNN that Monday’s searches were related to an ongoing sex trafficking investigation.
HSI in New York stated Monday it “executed law enforcement actions as part of an ongoing investigation” in cooperation with native legislation enforcement and HSI items in Los Angeles and Miami, and would “provide further information as it becomes available.”
Combs’ representatives haven’t responded to CNN’s requests for touch upon the searches or him being a target in the investigation.
Combs has been accused of sexual misconduct in 5 separate lawsuits filed in current months – allegations the star has repeatedly denied. It is unclear which allegations are included in the federal probe.
In November, singer Casandra “Cassie” Ventura filed a lawsuit against Combs, her former boyfriend, in federal courtroom in New York’s Southern District. The swimsuit alleged alleged Combs raped her, pressured her to have interaction in intercourse trafficking and subjected her to years of different abuses. The two events settled the suit days later.
The resolution to settle the swimsuit was “in no way an admission of wrongdoing,” Ben Brafman, an lawyer for Combs, advised CNN in a press release on the time. “Mr. Combs’ decision to settle the lawsuit does not in any way undermine his flat-out denial of the claims. He is happy they got to a mutual settlement and wishes Ms. Ventura the best.”
Every week later, Joi Dickerson-Neal filed a suit 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.
In courtroom filings, Combs formally denied the allegations made in the December swimsuit. He advised the courtroom the lawsuit ought to be dismissed as a result of the lady’s “decision to wait more than two decades to file her complaint has prejudiced” him as a result of he has “lost the ability to defend himself fully and fairly.” He additionally argued the proof might now be “unavailable, lost, or compromised” and that “witness identification, availability, and recollections are likely compromised due to the substantial passage of time.”
Further, one of Combs’ former workers, producer and videographer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones, filed a lawsuit final month accusing Combs of sexual assault and main a “widespread and dangerous criminal sex trafficking organization,” amongst different allegations. The swimsuit was filed in federal courtroom in New York’s southern district.
Combs’ lawyer denied the allegations and known as Jones’ claims “lies.”
“His reckless name-dropping about events that are pure fiction and simply did not happen is nothing more than a transparent attempt to garner headlines. We have overwhelming, indisputable proof that his claims are complete lies,” Diddy’s lawyer, Shawn Holley, stated final month.
Additionally, in an amended grievance on March 12, initially filed in New York in November, Liza Gardner accused Combs and singer Aaron Hall of battery and sexual assault in 1990, when she was 16 years previous.
According to the swimsuit, Gardner and a good friend met Combs and Hall, on the time a member of the R&B group Guy, at an occasion. At a dinner afterward, Combs and Hall have been “very flirtatious and handsy” with Gardner and her good friend and supplied them drinks all through the night time, regardless of being underage, the swimsuit states.
Combs and Hall then invited the 2 to Hall’s condominium for an afterparty, at which level Gardner was “offered more drinks and was physically forced into having sex with Combs against her will.” She was “shocked and traumatized,” the swimsuit states, and as she was getting dressed, Hall got here into the room, pinned her down and compelled her to have intercourse. She then obtained dressed and ran out of the condominium, the swimsuit states.
The subsequent day, an “irate” Combs got here to the house the place she and her good friend have been staying and “began assaulting and choking Ms. Gardner to the point that she passed out,” the lawsuit states.
CNN has reached out to Hall for remark. He has not but publicly spoken concerning the allegations.
In a December assertion, Combs denied the claims in all of the fits.
“Enough is enough. For the last couple of weeks, I have sat silently and watched people try to assassinate my character, destroy my reputation and my legacy,” Combs said. “Sickening allegations have been made against me by individuals looking for a quick payday. Let me be absolutely clear: I did not do any of the awful things being alleged. I will fight for my name, my family and for the truth.”
Several of the lawsuits allege that the misconduct was captured on video.
In Ventura’s swimsuit, she stated Combs used his cellphone, laptop and pill to movie their sexual interactions. In Dickerson-Neal’s swimsuit, she alleged she was a sufferer of “revenge porn,” saying Combs filmed her sexual assault and confirmed the video to others. And in Jones’ swimsuit, he alleged he has “hundreds of hours of footage and audio recordings of Mr. Combs, his staff, and his guests engaging in serious illegal activity.”
This is a creating story and can be up to date.
CNN’s Josh Campbell, Nicki Brown, Holmes Lybrand, Elizabeth Wagmeister and Carlos Suarez contributed to this report.