Sex trafficking & violence

Diddy’s lawyer: raids are like a “witch hunt”

The lawyer for rapper Sean "Diddy" Combs has sharply criticized US investigators for searching his client's home. There is no justification for the authorities' "excessive show of force and hostility", wrote lawyer Aaron Dyer on Tuesday in a statement made available to the German press agency Deutsche Presse-Agentur.

This was an ambush attack. Dyer spoke of a "witch hunt" as a result of "unfounded accusations".

His client is innocent and will continue to fight to clear his name. Neither Combs nor family members had been arrested, and the rapper had spoken to the authorities and cooperated, Dyer continued.

House searches at Combs' home
Investigators searched two of the musician's homes in the states of California and Florida on Monday. The responsible authority, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), remained silent on the background to the raids in Los Angeles and Miami. Its investigators report to the US Department of Homeland Security.

Serious allegations against the rapper
In recent months, allegations of sexual violence have been made against the rapper. Among others, producer Rodney "Lil Rod" Jones filed a lawsuit in a federal court in New York in February.

He accuses the 54-year-old of sexually harassing, drugging and threatening him over a period of more than a year. Combs, one of the most successful representatives of the hip-hop industry, who is also active as a record producer, actor and in other business fields, had the allegations rejected as lies by his legal team in February.

Sexual violence and abuse
In December 2023, an unnamed woman filed a lawsuit accusing Combs and two other men of drugging and raping her as a 17-year-old in the rapper's New York studio in 2003.

Prior to that, three women had filed civil suits against Combs, including his ex-girlfriend, singer Cassie, who had accused the rapper of sexual abuse, rape, intimidation and physical violence during their relationship. Combs reached a settlement with Cassie in November.