Sean “Diddy” Combs was arrested late Monday in New York following the announcement of a sealed criminal indictment against him, according to prosecutors. The specific charges against the hip-hop mogul have not been disclosed, but he has faced multiple allegations of sexual assault from women over recent months.
Damian Williams, the U.S. attorney in Manhattan, stated that federal agents took Combs into custody and indicated that the indictment details would be made public on Tuesday. Combs’ attorney, Marc Agnifilo, expressed disappointment over the prosecution, suggesting it is unjust and emphasized that Combs had been in New York last week in anticipation of the charges. Agnifilo defended Combs by stating, “He is an imperfect person, but he is not a criminal.”
Combs was arrested in the lobby of a Manhattan hotel and is currently in federal custody. The charges mark a significant development in the investigation into the 58-year-old music producer, whose past has been marred by allegations of misconduct. The federal probe was publicly acknowledged following the execution of search warrants at Combs’ residences in Los Angeles and Miami on March 25.
In the aftermath of the raids, his defense attorney labeled them as excessive and dismissed the allegations as unfounded. Combs is best known for his role in the East Coast-West Coast hip-hop rivalry of the 1990s and as a producer for the late Notorious B.I.G. His public persona has shifted over the years from a controversial figure to a more refined image as a businessman and father.
When allegations against Combs re-emerged in November, they were ignited by the lawsuit from his former partner and protégé, singer Cassie, who accused him of years of abuse, including beatings and rape. Her lawsuit, which also claimed Combs was involved in sex trafficking, was settled shortly after it was filed, but it opened the floodgates for other allegations against him.
The fallout from the accusations has been significant for Combs, leading to the loss of professional relationships and public support. Following the release of a leaked video showing him assaulting Cassie, Combs issued a social media apology, acknowledging his wrongdoing. Since then, he has faced numerous other lawsuits from various individuals alleging misconduct.
Combs has largely denied the allegations levied against him, even as the gravity of the situation has caused major setbacks for his business ventures and reputational standing within the industry.