Music mogul and rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs has been arrested in New York following an indictment by a federal grand jury, according to The New York Times. The specific charges against him remain undisclosed. This development follows a federal investigation into Diddy that has been ongoing since March, when Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) raided his homes in Los Angeles and Miami as part of a federal sex trafficking probe. Since the raids, federal prosecutors have been quietly building their case, reportedly issuing subpoenas to potential witnesses.

During the March raids, HSI issued a statement noting, “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.” Diddy’s attorney at the time criticized the operation, calling it “a gross overuse of military-level force” and clarified that Diddy was “never detained” but cooperated with authorities.

DIDDY’S LAWYER REACTION

In response to the indictment, Diddy’s lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, released a statement to Pitchfork:

“We are disappointed with the decision to pursue what we believe is an unjust prosecution of Mr. Combs by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is a music icon, self-made entrepreneur, loving family man, and proven philanthropist who has spent the last 30 years building an empire, adoring his children, and uplifting the Black community. He is imperfect, but he is not a criminal. Mr. Combs has cooperated fully with this investigation and even voluntarily relocated to New York last week in anticipation of the charges. Please reserve judgment until all the facts are known. These are the actions of an innocent man with nothing to hide, and he looks forward to clearing his name in court.”

Since late 2023, Diddy has faced multiple lawsuits for alleged sexual assault. The first significant case came from singer Cassie, his former girlfriend, who accused him of physical and sexual abuse. That lawsuit was settled a day after it was filed, with Diddy’s attorney asserting that the settlement did not undermine his outright denial of the claims. However, in the months that followed, CNN released hotel surveillance footage showing Diddy hitting, dragging, and assaulting Cassie in 2016. In response, Diddy posted an apology video, though he did not mention her by name. Cassie later issued a rare public statement, expressing gratitude for the support she received and urging people to believe victims the first time they come forward, saying, “It takes a lot of heart to tell the truth out of a situation where you were powerless.”