Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs breaks silence after residence raids: ‘A gross overuse of military-level force’ | EUROtoday

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Sean “Diddy” Combs has damaged his silence following raids on two of his properties, describing the actions of US Homeland Security brokers as a “gross overuse of military-level force”.

Lawyers for the rapper and music mogul stated there was “no excuse” for the “hostility” proven by authorities in the direction of Combs’ kids and employees members on the two properties.

The raids occurred on Monday on the hip-hop star’s mansion within the Holmby Hills space of Los Angeles, California, and his Miami Beach residence on Star Island, in Florida.

An announcement from Homeland Security stated regulation enforcement actions had been “executed as part of an ongoing investigation with assistance from HSI Los Angeles, HSI Miami and our local law enforcement partners.”

On Tuesday, Combs’s lawyer Aaron Dyers stated: “Yesterday, there was a gross overuse of military-level force as search warrants were executed at Mr Combs’ residences.

“There is no excuse for the excessive show of force and hostility exhibited by authorities or the way his children and employees were treated.”

Mr Dyers’ assertion was the primary to be made publicly by the music mogul’s workforce for the reason that raids.

Combs was not detained and spoke to authorities, and neither he nor any relations have been arrested, nor has their journey been restricted, in line with Dyer’s assertion.

Mr Dyers stated the “unprecedented ambush” has led to a “premature rush to judgment of Mr Combs and is nothing more than a witch hunt based on meritless accusations made in civil lawsuits.”

“There has been no finding of criminal or civil liability with any of these allegations,” Mr Dyers stated. “Mr Combs is innocent and will continue to fight every single day to clear his name.”

Combs’ sons, Justin and Christian “King” Combs, have been handcuffed in the course of the raid at their father’s residence in Los Angeles.

The legal investigation is a significant escalation within the scrutiny of Combs, who has been the defendant in a number of sexual abuse lawsuits in latest months. Speculation as to his whereabouts has circulated for the reason that raids.

Information a few non-public jet belonging to the rapper was faraway from a well-liked flight monitoring web site on Tuesday, although prior data confirmed it had landed in Antigua.

An announcement on FlightAware.com learn: “This aircraft (N1969C) is not available for public tracking per request from the owner/operator.”

In February, music producer Rodney Jones accused Combs of sexually assaulting him and forcing him to sleep with intercourse staff.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court docket in New York, accused the music mogul of repeated situations of unsolicited groping and sexual touching. It additionally stated that the person needed to work in a toilet whereas Combs showered and walked round bare.

The lawsuit was amended on Monday to incorporate actor Cuba Gooding Jr. The Independent has reached out to representatives of Combs and Gooding Jr for remark concerning the lawsuit.

Combs has beforehand denied all of the accusations in opposition to him and vowed to “fight for my name, my family and for the truth.”

He is among the many most influential hip-hop producers and executives of the previous three many years.

Formerly often called Puff Daddy, he constructed one among hip-hop’s largest empires, blazing a path with a number of entities hooked up to his well-known identify. He is the founding father of Bad Boy Records and a three-time Grammy winner who has labored with a slew of top-tier artists together with Biggie Smalls, Mary J Blige and Usher.