- By Samantha Glanville, Los Angeles, Phil McCausland
- bbc news
image source, Getty Images
A property connected to rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs was raided by federal agents on Monday.
The Department of Homeland Security said it conducted “law enforcement operations as part of an ongoing investigation” in New York, Los Angeles and Miami.
Two properties in Los Angeles and Miami were searched as part of the investigation.
Authorities have not disclosed the reason for the attack or whether it was related to Combs.
Representatives for the hip-hop mogul did not respond to the BBC’s request for comment on Monday.
Combs has been accused of sexual misconduct in several recent lawsuits. His lawyers have previously denied all allegations against him in the lawsuit.
On Monday, Homeland Security Investigations agents were searching the 17,000-square-foot mansion where Combs announced the release of his latest album last September.
The home address is associated with Combs’ production company, Bad Boy Films. Located in Los Angeles’ affluent Holmby Hills neighborhood, this area is home to numerous celebrities and is also home to Playboy’s mansion.
Two law enforcement officials told The Associated Press that the raid was part of an ongoing sex trafficking investigation.
The BBC has not independently confirmed this report.
Last year, R&B singer Kathy (real name Cassandra Ventura) filed a lawsuit in New York federal court against Combs, whom she dated from 2005 to 2018.
In court documents, she alleged years of abuse at the rapper’s hands, but she later settled a lawsuit with him.
Two other women have since filed their own lawsuits alleging sexual abuse. The man who accused Combs of sexual misconduct also came forward.
Douglas Wigdor, Ventura’s attorney and another alleged victim, said Monday that his client supports the efforts of law enforcement.
“I hope this is the beginning of a process to hold Mr. Combs accountable for his corrupt actions,” Wigdor said in a statement.
Mr. Combs remains one of the most influential and important hip-hop producers of the past several decades.
He is the founder of Bad Boy Records, a three-time Grammy Award winner, and has worked with A-list artists such as Usher and Mary J. Blige.
