Music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs has been arrested, his attorney confirmed to CNN.
He is currently facing multiple sexual assault lawsuits and is under federal investigation for human trafficking.
Combs, who had been in New York City since last week, was taken into custody on Monday evening at the Park Hyatt Hotel in Manhattan.
Homeland Security Investigations arrested him around 8:15 p.m., according to a source familiar with the case.
Details of the charges against Combs are not yet known.
Negotiations for his voluntary surrender had been ongoing.
However a sealed indictment was just issued according to sources.
“We are disappointed that the U.S. Attorney’s Office has chosen to pursue what we believe to be an unjust prosecution,” said Marc Agnifilo, Combs’ attorney.
He said that Combs had been cooperating with the investigation and that he moved to New York in preparation for the charges.
His legal team maintains his innocence, asserting he has “nothing to hide.”
Agnifilo described Combs as a music icon, entrepreneur, and devoted family man.
He emphasized Combs' 30-year dedication to building his career, raising his children, and supporting the Black community.
"He is an imperfect person, but not a criminal,” Agnifilo said, urging the public to reserve judgment until all facts are known.
He emphasized that Combs looks forward to clearing his name in court.
On the same day, US Attorney Damian Williams for the Southern District of New York released a statement confirming Combs’ arrest based on a sealed indictment.
Williams added that more details would be available once the indictment was unsealed.
Earlier this year, Combs became the focus of a months-long sex trafficking investigation led by Homeland Security.
The investigation involved searches of his Los Angeles and Miami homes in March.
Since November of last year, Combs has been hit with ten lawsuits, nine of which accuse him of sexual assault.
Several accusers have already met with federal investigators as part of the ongoing investigation.
In May, CNN reported that federal authorities were preparing to present some of Combs’ accusers before a grand jury, indicating that an indictment was likely forthcoming.
Combs has denied any wrongdoing in these cases.
However, he did issue a public apology even after CNN released surveillance footage earlier this year, showing him violently assaulting his ex-girlfriend, Cassandra “Cassie” Ventura, in a Los Angeles hotel in 2016.
Tyrone Blackburn, the attorney representing three of Combs' accusers – Lil Rod, April Lampros, and Grace O’Marcaigh – called the arrest "long-awaited."
“We trust the criminal justice system to handle this case,” Blackburn said in a statement.
“Regarding the civil suits, we will continue seeking the justice our clients deserve when the facts come to light” he added.
Blackburn also indicated that more alleged victims could come forward in the coming days.
He said, “The evidence is clear, and this was inevitable. This is a crucial step toward justice for all of Mr. Combs’ victims, including my clients.”
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
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