Two homes associated with Sean "Diddy" Combs were raided by federal agents on Monday, March 25. Officials at Homeland Security Investigations told KTLA that the searches at Diddy's Los Angeles and Miami homes were due to an "ongoing investigation" but they did not share the specific reason for the raids. Some outlets, including the Los Angeles Times and the Associated Press, reported that the raids were conducted due to sex trafficking allegations. On multiple occasions, Diddy has been accused of sexual assault, harassment and sex trafficking.
However, he has not been charged.
Diddy, 54, has denied the allegations against him. In December 2023, he shared a statement via Instagram, saying that those who had accused him at that point in time were "looking for a quick payday."
"Let me be absolutely clear: I did not do any of the awful things being alleged," he wrote. "I will fight for my name, my family and for the truth."
At the time of the raids, it was unclear if Diddy was the target of the "ongoing investigation," reported AP. But on Tuesday, March 26, a day after the raids, CNN reported that Diddy is the target of a federal investigation. A senior federal law enforcement official reportedly told CNN that a Homeland Security team that focuses on human trafficking crimes is executing the investigation.
More from LittleThings: Jasmin Paris Becomes First Woman To Finish Barkley Marathons: 'I'm Super Happy'
One of the homes that was searched is not owned by Diddy, KTLA reported. However, the home is associated with his company, Bad Boys Film Production.
In a statement shared with KTLA, Homeland Security Investigations officials said, "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. We will provide further information as it becomes available.”
Aerial footage from KTLA captured some of what happened during the raids. There were several SWAT vehicles around the Los Angeles home, in addition to agents in bulletproof vests who went in and out of the home.
NPR also reported that officials seemed to take some objects out of the home and question people.
One of the people who has accused Diddy of sexual assault is singer Cassie Ventura, his former girlfriend.
In November 2023, Cassie accused Diddy of sexual assault and years of abuse. The lawsuit was settled later that month.
Cassie's attorney shared a statement with KTLA in response to the raids at Diddy's homes.
“We will always support law enforcement when it seeks to prosecute those that have violated the law," the attorney, Douglas Wigdor, said in a statement. "Hopefully, this is the beginning of a process that will hold Mr. Combs responsible for his depraved conduct.”
50 Cent, who has had an ongoing feud with Diddy for years, took to Instagram to weigh in on the news. In a post, he wrote, "Now it's not Diddy do it, it's Diddy Done. They don't come like that unless they got a case," reported Business Insider.
An old interview in which Usher spoke about Diddy has also resurfaced. Usher was sent to Diddy's New York mansion at age 14 and spoke about it in 2016 with radio host Howard Stern.
“It was pretty wild. It was crazy. There were very curious things taking place and I didn’t necessarily understand it,” Usher said at the time.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, the National Sexual Assault Hotline provides confidential 24/7 support. Call 800-656-HOPE (4673) or chat online at RAINN.
