The Los Angeles and Miami residences of hip-hop artist Sean "Diddy" Combs were raided by federal authorities on Monday
While the specific reasons for the raids remain undisclosed, it's reported that they are linked to a federal investigation into sex trafficking. However, authorities have not confirmed whether Combs himself is a suspect in the probe.
Homeland Security Investigations have broad jurisdiction to look into the illegal movement of people, goods and more across US borders and within it, including sex trafficking.
The rapper was hit with a federal lawsuit last year from a former girlfriend, Cassandra Ventura, who accused him of sex trafficking.
She had accused Combs of subjecting her to serial physical abuse, sexual slavery and rape.
She alleged Combs regularly beat her over the course of a 10-year professional and romantic relationship, controlled her through intimidation and gave her drugs and alcohol.
Combs, through his lawyer, flatly denied the allegations.
The next day, Combs and Ventura jointly announced they had settled the case out of court.
Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
The lawsuit by Ventura was one of at least four civil complaints brought in recent months leveling sexual assault allegations against Combs.
Rapper 50 Cent took to social media to comment on the situation, continuing a longstanding feud with Combs. Posting about the raids on Instagram, 50 Cent taunted Combs with suggestive captions like “Now it’s not Diddy do it, it’s Diddy done 🤷🏽♂️they don’t come like that unless they got a case.”
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