Sean “Diddy” Combs was arrested on Monday at the Park Hyatt hotel in New York City, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office. A representative indicated that Combs, who had been staying at the hotel for several weeks, was surprised by the arrest. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams confirmed the federal agents acted on a sealed indictment filed by the Southern District of New York and indicated plans to unseal the indictment soon.
Combs’ attorney, Marc Agnifilo, expressed his disappointment, stating that the music mogul, 54, had been cooperative with the investigation and had recently relocated to New York in anticipation of potential charges. Agnifilo emphasized that Combs is a devoted family man and philanthropist, asserting that he is not a criminal and looks forward to proving his innocence in court.
The charges against Combs remain unclear at this time. He has recently been the subject of multiple lawsuits, including one from his former girlfriend Casandra Ventura, also known as Cassie. Ventura accused him of years of physical and sexual abuse. The lawsuit was settled just a day after filing, with Combs’ legal team stating that the settlement did not imply any wrongdoing. Combs has previously denied the allegations.
In light of Ventura’s claims, other individuals have come forward with similar accusations. Dawn Richard, a former member of the girl group Danity Kane, recently filed a lawsuit alleging abusive behavior from Combs during her time working for him. Richard’s lawsuit characterized him as controlling and violent, reflecting similar themes found in Ventura’s allegations, which included severe accusations of sex trafficking and abuse.
Federal investigators had previously searched Combs’ homes in Miami and Los Angeles regarding allegations of sex trafficking, sexual assault, and the illegal distribution of narcotics and firearms. Reports indicate that the investigations stemmed from a warrant issued by the Southern District of New York, and a source stated that various individuals were interviewed as part of the inquiry.
Since the release of video footage showing Combs attacking Ventura, several institutions have distanced themselves from him, including Howard University, which rescinded an honorary degree and disbanded a scholarship program associated with his name. Furthermore, Combs has recently listed his Los Angeles residence for $61.5 million following the law enforcement raids.