Entertainment
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ lawyer slams investigation as ‘witch hunt,’ says feds used ‘excessive show of force’ in ‘ambush’
Sean “Diddy” Combs is not going down without a fight.
After Homeland Security raided the mogul’s mega-mansions in Los Angeles and Miami, his attorney Aaron Dyer, released a statement to Page Six calling it a “witch hunt.”
“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,” Dyer said.
Dyer also said, “Mr. Combs was never detained but spoke to and cooperated with authorities. Despite media speculation, neither Mr. Combs nor any of his family members have been arrested nor has their ability to Travel been restricted in any way.”
Sources told Page Six that Combs, 54, and his team did not see it coming, as that he was preparing to vacation in the Bahamas with his children for spring break.
“The media knew before him, as there were already helicopters there,” one source said.
“This unprecedented ambush — paired with an advanced, coordinated media presence — leads 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,” Dyer claimed.
A source close to the situation described the scene as including “lasers pointed on his sons’ heads, faces and hearts while they were handcuffed and escorted outside.”
The source further claimed that [Combs’ sons] were not fully dressed, and painted a scene of terror in which assault rifles were drawn.
Combs’ properties in California and Florida also took a major hit, with our insider telling us there was “significant property damage to both estates.”
Combs’ protégé, Brendan Paul, 25, who has been described in court docs as the Bad Boy Records founder’s alleged “drug mule,” was arrested for personal use of cocaine and marijuana, according to our source.
But, “the idea that he’s a drug mule is ridiculous… He was only arrested, and he has already been released. His arrest has nothing to do with anyone other than Brendan,” the source claimed.
The investigation comes on the heels of several lawsuits from both men and women accusing Combs of sexual assault and rape among other allegations, which he has denied.
Combs’ lawyer insists that the music mogul innocent, and said, “There has been no finding of criminal or civil liability with any of these allegations. Mr. Combs is innocent and will continue to fight every single day to clear his name.”
Combs was planning to head to the Bahamas to spend time with his 17-year-old twin daughters — Jessie and D’Lila — when Homeland Security raided two of his mansions on Monday, a source familiar with the situation previously told Page Six.
“Diddy was detained at the airport while headed to the Bahamas with the twins,” the source said.
Flight data showed his private jet had landed in the Caribbean, near Antigua, on Monday morning.
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But our source told us the plane was chartered by someone else.
A video of Diddy pacing around an executive airport in Miami surfaced hours later, confirming he was in Florida at the time.
Authorities previously confirmed to Page Six that: “On March 25, 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.”
New York’s Southern District federal court, which issued the warrant, is where Diddy’s ex-girlfriend, Casandra Ventura (better known as R&B singer, Cassie) filed a lawsuit against the rap mogul alleging years of sexual abuse and sex trafficking.
He denied the allegations, and settled the lawsuit within 24 hours of its filing.
But several other accusers subsequently came forward with similar allegations after Ventura filed her suit in November, and Diddy has also denied any wrongdoing.
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