Diddy was taken into federal custody in New York on Monday night.
“We are disappointed by the decision to pursue what we believe is an unjust prosecution of Mr. Combs by the U.S. Attorney’s Office,” stated Marc Agnifilo, Combs’ attorney, to THR. “Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is a music icon, a self-made entrepreneur, a devoted family man, and a proven philanthropist who has dedicated the last 30 years to building an empire, cherishing his children, and working to uplift the Black community. He is not without flaws, but he is not a criminal. Mr. Combs has been fully cooperative with this investigation and voluntarily moved to New York last week in anticipation of these charges. We ask that you reserve your judgment until all the facts are available. These actions come from an innocent man with nothing to conceal, and he looks forward to clearing his name in court.”
This arrest occurs as Combs deals with serious legal issues, including a new sexual assault lawsuit filed by his former bandmate Dawn Richard last week. Her suit claims battery, false imprisonment, the withholding of millions in unpaid royalties and wages, and the theft of her copyrighted works.
Earlier this year, in March, federal law enforcement conducted raids on Diddy’s residences as part of a human trafficking investigation. Richard’s lawsuit is at least the eighth complaint made against him since his former girlfriend Casandra Ventura filed a lawsuit detailing years of physical and sexual abuse. That case was quickly settled but led to other accusers, including Liza Gardner, Joi Dickerson-Neal, and Crystal McKinney, coming forward with similar allegations. Combs has denied these allegations and largely claims that the accusers are seeking financial compensation.
