Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs arrested in New York, his lawyer tells CNN

By Elizabeth Wagmeister, Josh Campbell and Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN

(CNN) — Music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, who has faced a series of sexual assault charges and a federal human trafficking investigation over the past year, has been arrested, the producer’s attorney tells CNN.

Combs was arrested Monday evening at the Park Hyatt Hotel in Manhattan and taken into custody by Homeland Security Investigations, a source familiar with the negotiations for his surrender told CNN.

The allegations and details of the case against Combs are unclear.

The arrest was made on an indictment that is expected to be released Tuesday morning, according to a statement from Damian Williams, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York.

HSI, the lead investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security, is responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, including human trafficking, terrorism, drug smuggling, and other organized criminal activity.

Combs has been in New York since last week, his lawyer said. Negotiations for his surrender were ongoing and according to the source, a grand jury voted to indict on Thursday, September 12.

“We are disappointed with the decision to proceed with what we believe is an unjust prosecution of Mr. Combs by the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” Marc Agnifilo, an attorney for Combs, told CNN.

Combs’ attorney said the musician cooperated with the investigation that led to the charges and “voluntarily moved to New York last week pending these charges.” His team insists he is innocent and says he has “nothing to hide.”

“Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is a music icon, self-made entrepreneur, loving family man and proven philanthropist who has spent the past 30 years building an empire, adores his children and working to uplift the Black community. He is an imperfect person, but not a criminal,” Agnifilo told CNN.

Agnifolo asked people to “reserve your judgment until you have all the facts. These are the actions of an innocent man who has nothing to hide, and he looks forward to clearing his name in court.”

Earlier this year, Combs became the target of a months-long sex trafficking investigation by the Homeland Security Investigations Agency, leading to the dramatic searches of the musician’s homes in Los Angeles and Miami in March.

After the home raids, a law enforcement source told CNN that the federal investigation stems from many of the sexual assault allegations made against the producer in several civil lawsuits. CNN found that the scope of the investigation is much broader and focuses on sex trafficking, money laundering and illegal drugs.

Since November of last year, Combs has been hit with ten lawsuits, nine of which directly accuse him of sexual assault. As previously reported by CNN, several of these accusers have met with federal investigators for questioning as part of the expanded investigation.

CNN exclusively reported in May that federal investigators were preparing to bring accusers of Combs before a federal grand jury for testimony — a significant escalation in the government investigation that indicated the Justice Department was moving toward a possible indictment against the rapper and businessman.

Combs has previously denied wrongdoing in the various lawsuits. However, he publicly apologized after CNN exclusively released surveillance footage earlier this year that showed Combs brutally attacking his ex-girlfriend, Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, at a Los Angeles hotel in March 2016.

“In response to the numerous questions we have received regarding the charges against Sean Combs, neither Ms. Ventura nor I have any comment,” attorney Douglas Wigdor, who represents Ventura, said in a statement Tuesday.

“We appreciate your understanding and if that changes, we will be sure to let you know,” Wigdor told CNN.

An attorney for three of Combs’ accusers — Lil Rod, April Lampros and Grace O’Marcaigh — called the arrest “long overdue.”

“We are leaving the criminal aspect of this case in the hands of the people and the legal system,” attorney Tyrone Blackburn said in a statement Monday evening. “As for the civil cases, we wait for time for the facts to emerge and seek the justice our clients deserve.”

Blackburn said he expects more alleged victims to come forward.

“We knew this was coming. The evidence is very clear and it was only a matter of time. This is an important step toward justice for all of Mr. Combs’ victims, including my clients. Justice will prevail,” Blackburn added.

Combs is facing a slew of civil lawsuits

While it is unclear what evidence and allegations led to Combs’ arrest, the artist has faced a slew of civil lawsuits over the past year, all but one of which alleges sexual assault against him.

Just last week, Dawn Richard – a former member of the music group Danity Kane – filed a lawsuit in New York accusing the producer of sexual harassment, sexual harassment and false imprisonment, among other things.

Richard also claimed in the lawsuit that she witnessed Combs “brutally beat” Ventura, who filed and quickly settled her own lawsuit against Combs in November 2023.

One of Combs’ attorneys, Erica Wolff, denied Richard’s allegations in a statement to CNN and accused Richard of having a financial motive.

Another former member of Danity Kane, Aubrey O’Day, responded to the news of Combs’ arrest in a post Monday evening.

“The purpose of Justice is to provide closure and give us space to create a new chapter. Women never understand this. I feel validated. Today is a victory for women all over the world, not just me. Things are finally changing,” O’Day wrote.

Like Ventura, Danity Kane was represented by Combs’ Bad Boy label.

Combs has also repeatedly denied allegations from Ventura, who said she was raped by Combs and endured years of physical and other abuse. However, Combs was seen earlier this year in a 2016 video published by CNN grabbing, pushing, dragging and kicking Ventura. Two days after the video was published, Combs apologized for his actions seen in the recording.

“It’s so hard to think about the darkest times in your life, but sometimes that’s what you have to do,” Combs said in a video statement on Instagram. “I was confused – I hit rock bottom – but I’m not making excuses. My behavior in that video is inexcusable.”

He continued: “I take full responsibility for my actions in that video. I’m disgusted. I was disgusted at the time when I did it. I’m disgusted now.”

The music mogul has faced mounting public criticism since the raids on his homes in Los Angeles and Miami in March, weeks after Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones filed a lawsuit against him.

Jones, who worked as a videographer and producer for Combs, accuses Combs of sexual assault, sexual harassment and grooming and claims to have video and audio recordings of the musician and his staff “engaged in serious illegal activities,” according to a report. complaint. filed in New York federal court.

Among other allegations, Jones claims that Combs forced him to recruit and associate with sex workers, threatened him and served drug-laced alcoholic drinks to accommodate partygoers.

Shawn Holley, Combs’ attorney, denied the allegations in a statement to CNN and called Jones “a liar.”

“His reckless name-dropping of events that are pure fiction and simply did not happen is nothing more than a transparent attempt to grab headlines. We have overwhelming, indisputable evidence that his claims are complete lies,” Holley said in the statement.

One of the 10 lawsuits against Combs names him as a defendant but charges that he sexually assaulted Combs’ son, Christian Combs, by a woman who worked as a yacht crew member.

This story has been updated with additional information.

CNN’s Kara Scannell, John Miller and Amanda Jackson contributed to this report.