Hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs has been arrested in New York City on unspecified federal charges, federal authorities have confirmed.
The arrest, made by US Homeland Security agents, comes as part of an ongoing investigation linked to previous raids on Combs’ properties in Los Angeles and Miami earlier this year.
The charges remain sealed, but Combs’ attorney, Marc Agnifilo, expressed disappointment over the arrest, maintaining that his client is “an innocent man” and eager to clear his name. “We believe this is an unjust prosecution,” Agnifilo stated in response to the arrest, adding that Combs is looking forward to addressing the allegations in court.
Combs, a music icon and entrepreneur, has been embroiled in a series of legal battles over the last year.
The charges are believed to be linked to investigations into sex trafficking allegations that surfaced after Combs’ ex-partner, Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, filed a lawsuit against him in late 2023. Several additional lawsuits have since followed, accusing Combs of sexual assault, abuse, and sex trafficking, all of which he has denied.
The US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Damian Williams, confirmed the arrest in a brief statement, saying the indictment will be unsealed on Tuesday morning.
The rapper faces multiple civil lawsuits, including accusations from women alleging sexual assault, and a lawsuit from a former producer accusing Combs of inappropriate sexual advances.
The legal battles gained traction after the New York Adult Survivors Act temporarily lifted the statute of limitations for filing civil lawsuits in cases of sexual abuse. The most recent wave of allegations emerged following raids on Combs’ properties in March, during which authorities confiscated electronics after stopping him at a Miami airport.
Combs has built a significant empire over the past three decades and continues to deny all allegations. Despite the legal challenges, his attorney highlighted his philanthropic work and role as a devoted family man, calling into question the motivations behind the allegations.
More details are expected when the indictment is unsealed in federal court.