Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs arrested in New York
Music mogul Sean ‘Diddy‘ Combs was arrested in New York on the evening of September 16th on federal charges relating to sexual assault allegations made against him.
The arrest took place at the Park Hyatt New York on 57th Street in New York around 8:30pm at local time on September 16th. It comes after the authorities previously used search warrants to raid properties owned by the rapper in Miami and Los Angeles earlier this year.
Although the alleged offences against Combs were initially kept under wraps after his arrest, following a court appearance on September 17th, it’s since been revealed that he has been charged with racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, and transportation to engage in prostitution.
Damian Williams, the US attorney for the Southern District of New York, took to social media prior to the arrest to provide an update on the case, revealing “we expect to move to unseal the indictment in the morning and will have more to say at that time.”
Combs’ legal problems began in 2023 when his ex-partner, Cassie Ventura, accused him of rape and physical assault. The rapper denied the claims brought forward by Ventura before reaching a settlement with his former partner, bringing the case to a close from a legal perspective.
In May, footage emerged of Combs attacking Ventura at a hotel in 2016, which he later issued an apology for on social media after previously denying being violent towards her.
Combs accepted “full responsibility” for the attack, stating, “I was disgusted when I did it. I’m disgusted now,” he says in the video. The rapper also described the period as “the darkest times” in his life.
More women have since come forward to make accusations against the musician. Notable, he wasaccused of sexually assaulting and drugging a model in 2003. Crystal McKinney alleged that she was forced to perform oral sex on him at his recording studio in New York City in 2003.
Furthermore, April Lampros submitted a lawsuit against Combs that accused him of four instances of sexual assault. Lampros alleged that she first met Combs in 1995 when she was a student at New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology. The sexual assaults allegedly took place over a period of many years, ranging from the mid-1990s to the early-2000s.
While the federal grounds for Combs’ arrest are currently undisclosed, the rapper’s attorney, Marc Agnifilo, has released a statement on the latest development. Speaking to the BBC, Agnifilo described his client as an “innocent man” and said he is excited by the opportunity of “clearing his name in court”.
“We are disappointed with the decision to pursue what we believe is an unjust prosecution,” Agnifilo said added.
The legal representative continued: “Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is a music icon, self-made entrepreneur, loving family man, and proven philanthropist who has spent the last 30 years building an empire, adoring his children, and working to uplift the black community.”
Diddy has denied all of the allegations made against him relating to the ongoing lawsuits.
For help, advice or more information regarding sexual harassment, assault and rape in the UK, visit the Rape Crisis charity website. In the US, visit RAINN.
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