The searches carried out in the residences of American rapper Sean Combs, alias “P. Diddy”, are the product of a “witch hunt based on unfounded accusations”, his lawyer reacted this Tuesday.
Also read: American rapper P. Diddy accused of sexual assault again, this time by his producer
Aaron Dyer, who defends the musician suspected of multiple rapes, denounced in a press release a “blatant excessive use of armed force” during the operations carried out Monday under the aegis of the Department of Homeland Security.
Close “amicably”
Federal agents searched the rapper's luxurious villas in Los Angeles and Miami, weapons in hand, under the eye of some American media who captured images of these operations from the air.
“This unprecedented ambush – coupled with a coordinated media presence – leads to premature judgment of Mr. Combs,” the lawyer added.
"Mr. Combs is innocent and will continue to fight every day to clear his name."
» The Department of Homeland Security confirmed the searches, without giving the reason.
They come at a time when the rapper is the target of several rape accusations, in complaints which describe him as a sexually violent predator capable of drugging his victims.
In mid-November, his ex-partner, R&B singer Cassie, was the first to file a civil complaint for rape and physical violence against the rapper.
A case closed “amicably” two days later, thanks to an agreement the details of which were not disclosed.
Suspicions of rape of a minor
The singer's complaint accused the rap star of having engaged in "violent behavior" and "deviant demands" for "more than a decade."
She explained that she had been forced to engage in sexual relations with several men in various American cities.
Since then, two other women have filed complaints.
One of them did so by name and accused him of having “drugged and sexually assaulted” her in 1992, at the time when the rapper was called “Puff Daddy”.
In December, Sean Combs was also the subject of a civil complaint in New York accusing him of gang rape of a 17-year-old minor in 2003. "There has been no finding of criminal or civil liability regarding these accusations,” emphasized his lawyer.
Ready to go to the Bahamas
Mr. Combs - also known as Puff Daddy - was at a Miami airport on Monday and had a conversation with federal agents, without being arrested, a police source told AFP.
According to the New York Times, he was preparing to fly to the Bahamas, but ultimately stayed in the United States.
“Neither Mr. Combs nor any member of his family has been arrested and their ability to travel has not been restricted in any way,” insisted his lawyer, denouncing “the way in which his children and his employees were treated .
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During the searches carried out in Los Angeles on Monday, the rapper's sons, Justin and King Combs, were handcuffed, according to images published by several American media.
P. Diddy's private jet landed Monday evening on the Caribbean island of Antigua, several media also claimed, a few hours after the searches, without the rapper being on board.
Flight tracking data shows the plane, named LoveAir, took off from an airport in Southern California.