Videos show federal agents raiding Sean 'Diddy' Combs' homes

CNN
25 Mar 202409:37

Summary

TLDRFederal law enforcement agents have raided properties owned by musician and producer Sean Diddy Combs in Los Angeles and Miami as part of an ongoing investigation. The Department of Homeland Security is involved, indicating a potential focus on human trafficking. While it's unclear whether Combs is the direct target of the investigation, he has faced multiple legal issues recently, including allegations of sexual assault and rape.

Takeaways

  • 🚨 The Department of Homeland Security confirmed federal law enforcement raids on properties owned by Sean Diddy Combs.
  • 🔍 It is not confirmed if Sean Diddy Combs himself is the target of the federal investigation.
  • 🏠 Two properties associated with Combs were searched, one in Los Angeles and one in Miami.
  • 🤝 The operation involved Homeland Security Investigations, along with local law enforcement partners.
  • 📜 The Homeland Security Investigations usually leads investigations related to human trafficking.
  • 📉 Combs has faced multiple legal issues recently, including rape and abuse allegations.
  • 🎤 The musician was sued for various allegations, including sex trafficking and gang rape in the past.
  • 💼 A former employee accused Combs of sexual harassment and grooming, involving sex workers.
  • 🔎 The raids could be looking for evidence of alleged crimes, such as computer devices or other storage media.
  • 👨‍⚖️ Joey Jackson emphasized that without an indictment, there's no conclusion of guilt, only a belief that a crime was committed.
  • 🔒 The presence of armed federal agents suggests a serious operation, potentially beyond a simple arrest.

Q & A

  • Which department confirmed the federal raids on properties associated with Sean Diddy Combs?

    -The Department of Homeland Security confirmed the federal raids.

  • What is the role of CNN security correspondent Josh Campbell in this context?

    -Josh Campbell provides an overview of the significance of the federal law enforcement action and clarifies that Sean Diddy Combs may not be the direct target of the investigation.

  • Which agency is conducting the law enforcement actions mentioned in the script?

    -Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is conducting the law enforcement actions.

  • What was the nature of the allegations made against Sean Diddy Combs in November?

    -In November, Sean Diddy Combs was sued for rape and abuse by a former partner, which was quickly settled.

  • What specific claims were made in the December complaint filed in the Southern District of New York?

    -A woman, referred to as Jane Doe, alleged that she was sexually assaulted by Sean Diddy Combs when she was 17 years old.

  • What was the basis for the lawsuit filed against Sean Diddy Combs by a former employee last month?

    -The former employee accused Combs of sexual assault, sexual harassment, and 'grooming', alleging that he was not compensated for his music production work and was forced to interact with sex workers.

  • What is the typical process for federal agents to conduct a search in someone's home?

    -Federal agents must first establish probable cause and seek a warrant from a judge. Upon approval, they can conduct a search of the residence for evidence related to the alleged crime.

  • What does the presence of a mobile command post indicate in a federal operation?

    -The presence of a mobile command post suggests that the federal operation is likely to be extensive and may involve a long-term presence at the location.

  • Why might heavily armed agents enter a home during a federal raid?

    -Heavily armed agents enter a home to ensure the safety of law enforcement and to deter any potential criminal activity during the execution of the search warrant.

  • What could be the focus of the federal agents' search in Sean Diddy Combs' homes?

    -The focus of the search could be to find evidence related to alleged sex trafficking, as suggested by the involvement of Homeland Security Investigations.

  • What happens if the search conducted by federal agents yields evidence of criminality?

    -If the search yields evidence of criminality, law enforcement will evaluate the findings and may proceed to the next level of investigation, potentially leading to more serious legal actions.

Outlines

00:00

🚨 Federal Raid on Sean Diddy Combs' Properties

This paragraph discusses the recent raid on properties owned by Sean Diddy Combs by federal law enforcement agents. The Department of Homeland Security confirmed the action to CNN, but clarified that it is not yet known if Combs himself is the target of a federal investigation. The raids took place in Los Angeles and Miami, and are part of an ongoing investigation. The paragraph also outlines previous legal issues faced by Combs, including lawsuits for rape, abuse, sexual assault, and sex trafficking allegations. The involvement of Homeland Security Investigations suggests a potential focus on human trafficking, although specific details of the investigation remain unknown at this time.

05:01

🔍 Legal Proceedings and Investigation Process

This paragraph delves into the legal aspects of the investigation and the process of executing search warrants. It emphasizes that law enforcement must establish probable cause and obtain a warrant from a judge to search a property. The involvement of the mobile command post indicates a significant operation, likely involving a search warrant rather than a simple arrest. The paragraph also discusses the potential reasons for the federal agents' presence at Combs' homes, including the search for electronic evidence related to alleged crimes. The legal experts in the discussion highlight the importance of the warrants and the rights of individuals, as well as the potential next steps in the investigation if evidence of criminality is found.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Department of Homeland Security

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is a U.S. federal department aimed at protecting the United States from various threats, including terrorism, natural disasters, and border security. In the context of the video, the DHS confirms the execution of law enforcement actions on properties associated with Sean Diddy Combs, indicating a serious and significant investigation is underway.

💡Federal Law Enforcement Agents

Federal law enforcement agents are officers who work at the national level to enforce federal laws and investigate crimes that cross state or international boundaries. In the video, these agents are involved in the raid of properties linked to the musician and producer Sean Diddy Combs, suggesting that the investigation is of a federal nature and potentially involves serious allegations.

💡Raids

A raid is a sudden and swift action, typically by law enforcement, to inspect a place or make an arrest. In the video, raids are conducted on multiple locations owned by Sean Diddy Combs, indicating a significant law enforcement operation that is part of an ongoing investigation.

💡Investigation

An investigation is a systematic and legal inquiry conducted to uncover facts or evidence related to a crime or other matters of public interest. In the context of the video, an ongoing investigation is being conducted, which has led to the federal raids on Combs' properties, suggesting that authorities are seeking evidence related to serious allegations.

💡Search Warrants

A search warrant is a legal document issued by a judge that allows law enforcement officers to search a specific location for evidence of a crime. In the video, the mention of law enforcement actions suggests that search warrants may have been obtained, allowing federal agents to search Sean Diddy Combs' properties for evidence.

💡Sexual Assault Allegations

Sexual assault allegations refer to claims that an individual has engaged in non-consensual sexual activity. In the video, it is mentioned that Sean Diddy Combs faced multiple allegations of sexual assault, which are the subject of legal actions and form part of the broader context for the federal investigation.

💡Human Trafficking

Human trafficking is a serious crime that involves the illegal trade of people for exploitation or forced labor. The video highlights that the Homeland Security Investigations, an agency known for leading human trafficking investigations, is involved in the case, suggesting that the investigation may be related to potential human trafficking activities.

💡Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is a division of the DHS that focuses on investigating and combating transnational crime, including human trafficking, drug smuggling, and other serious offenses. In the video, HSI is leading the law enforcement actions on properties associated with Sean Diddy Combs, indicating the gravity and scope of the investigation.

💡Legal Woes

Legal woes refer to difficulties or problems encountered in legal matters, often involving lawsuits or criminal charges. In the video, it is mentioned that Sean Diddy Combs has faced significant legal woes in recent months, including multiple lawsuits and allegations, which are the subject of the federal investigation.

💡Probable Cause

Probable cause is a legal standard that requires a reasonable belief that a crime has been or is being committed. It is needed for law enforcement to obtain a warrant or make an arrest. In the video, the mention of probable cause suggests that there was sufficient evidence for authorities to believe that crimes related to sex trafficking may have occurred, justifying the raids on Combs' properties.

💡Electronic Media

Electronic media refers to devices or platforms that store or transmit information in digital form, such as computers, cell phones, and thumb drives. In the context of the video, electronic media is significant as it is likely the target of the search warrants, with authorities looking for evidence in the form of digital data that could be related to the allegations against Sean Diddy Combs.

Highlights

Federal law enforcement agents raided properties owned by Sean Diddy Combs.

The Department of Homeland Security confirmed the raids to CNN.

It is not confirmed if Sean Diddy Combs is the subject or target of a federal investigation.

Two properties associated with Combs were searched by federal agents in Los Angeles and Miami.

Homeland Security Investigations conducted the law enforcement actions as part of an ongoing investigation.

Combs has faced legal issues recently, including a lawsuit for rape and abuse by a former partner.

In December, Combs faced sexual assault allegations in a complaint filed in the Southern District of New York.

A former employee accused Combs of sexual assault, harassment, and grooming.

Combs' son, Justin Combs, was accused of soliciting prostitutes and underage girls.

The Homeland Security Investigations agency is known for its focus on human trafficking investigations.

A search warrant would require federal officers to show probable cause to a judge.

Federal agencies may search for electronic devices and storage mechanisms if included in the warrant.

The presence of heavily armed agents suggests a potential criminality and the need for security.

Law enforcement actions typically involve establishing indicia of criminality before entering a home.

The investigation's outcome depends on the evaluation of any evidence found during the search.

The raids indicate a significant development in an ongoing investigation.

The mobile command post suggests a long-term presence of federal agencies at the raided locations.

The specifics of the law enforcement actions are not yet known, but the involvement of HSI points towards a potential human trafficking case.

Transcripts

00:00

Breaking news.

00:01

The Department of Homeland Security

00:02

has just confirmed

00:03

to CNN

00:04

that federal law enforcement

00:06

agents have raided

00:07

properties owned by musician and producer

00:10

Sean Diddy Combs.

00:11

Let's bring in CNN security

00:13

correspondent Josh Campbell

00:14

and CNN legal analyst Joey Jackson.

00:17

Josh, let me start with you.

00:18

What are these raids by federal agents

00:21

in multiple locations?

00:22

Tell you about the seriousness

00:24

of this investigation.

00:26

Yeah, Wolf,

00:27

a very significant

00:27

development here,

00:28

seeing this law enforcement

00:30

action taking place.

00:31

I'll point out,

00:32

just to be clear at the outset,

00:33

we don't know that Sean Diddy Combs

00:35

himself is the subject

00:36

or target of a federal investigation.

00:38

So it's just worth

00:39

pointing that out at this hour.

00:41

But what we do know

00:42

is that two properties

00:43

associated with him.

00:44

We saw the feds descend

00:46

on those properties.

00:47

We saw an aerial footage.

00:48

Federal agents both here in the Los

00:49

Angeles area

00:50

as well as in Miami at those residences.

00:53

Now, the Department of Homeland Security,

00:55

they're what's called

00:56

HFC Homeland Security Investigations,

00:59

gave CNN a statement.

01:00

I'll read you part of that

01:01

when asked about what this activity is.

01:03

They say that earlier today,

01:04

HCA in New York

01:06

executed law enforcement actions

01:07

as part of an ongoing investigation

01:10

with assistance from HCA,

01:11

Los Angeles HCA, Miami,

01:13

and our local law enforcement partners.

01:15

That is it, confirming

01:16

that they are conducting

01:17

what they're deeming

01:18

law enforcement action,

01:19

which could

01:20

indicate a search warrants

01:21

being conducted

01:22

there, could indicate arrests

01:24

being conducted.

01:24

We just don't know at this hour

01:26

specifically what

01:27

that law enforcement action is.

01:29

It is worth pointing out, though,

01:30

that Combs himself

01:31

obviously has faced

01:32

significant legal woes in recent months.

01:34

I'll give you just

01:35

kind of the highlights of what

01:37

actually occurred.

01:38

In November,

01:39

he was sued for rape

01:40

and abuse by a former partner.

01:42

That Suttle that lawsuit was

01:44

then settled very quickly.

01:45

But in December,

01:46

he faced

01:47

sexual assault allegations in a complaint

01:49

filed in the Southern

01:50

District of New York.

01:51

The suit was brought by a woman

01:52

referred to as Jane Doe, who said that

01:55

she was 17 at the time

01:56

when these allegations took place.

01:59

And back in 2003, he was accused of sex

02:02

trafficking and gang rape,

02:03

among other allegations.

02:05

Also in that suit, naming

02:06

two of his associates, of course, Combs

02:08

denied any wrongdoing there.

02:10

And then just last month, a former

02:11

employee of Combs filed a suit

02:13

also in the state of New York,

02:15

accusing him of sexual assault

02:17

of sexual harassment

02:18

and, quote, grooming.

02:20

That former employee stated

02:21

that he had

02:21

worked for Combs between 2022 and 2023.

02:25

Among those allegations,

02:26

this former employee,

02:27

a male employee, said that Combs

02:29

did not compensate him

02:30

for his music

02:31

production work and forced him to procure

02:33

and interact with sex workers,

02:35

threatened him with serving

02:36

alcoholic beverages

02:37

laced with drugs

02:38

to guests at parties at Combs home.

02:41

And then Combs son Sean.

02:43

Justin Combs

02:44

son Justin Combs

02:45

was also

02:46

also accused of soliciting prostitutes

02:48

and underage girls

02:49

at his father's homes against the Combs

02:51

have denied any wrongdoing.

02:52

But just a series of allegations

02:54

that we've seen taking place.

02:55

Final point, Wolf, I'll note

02:57

is that while we don't know

02:58

the specific allegations

03:00

or why the feds are at these residences,

03:02

it is worth pointing out the agency

03:03

that is conducting

03:04

this law enforcement activity,

03:06

it's not the FBI, it's

03:07

not the DEA or the ATF.

03:09

This is H.S.

03:10

Homeland Security Investigations

03:12

for those unfamiliar.

03:13

This is an agency that has long

03:14

been the forefront

03:15

specifically at human

03:17

trafficking investigations.

03:18

So although we don't have

03:19

the specifics yet, we're starting to,

03:21

you know,

03:22

we can glean

03:22

just based on which agency has the lead,

03:24

the direction this might go.

03:26

But again,

03:27

we don't yet know that Combs himself

03:28

was the target of the investigation Wolf.

03:30

We do know

03:30

at this hour

03:31

that federal agents

03:32

were at two of his homes,

03:33

both here in Los Angeles

03:34

and in Florida Wolf.

03:35

Yeah, important points.

03:36

And Joey Jackson, let me repeat.

03:38

We don't know.

03:39

Sean Diddy Combs

03:40

himself is under investigation.

03:42

But clearly, Joey, it's not good

03:44

if your homes are actually being raided.

03:49

No, it's not, Wolf.

03:50

And I

03:50

think, you know,

03:51

whatever conclusions can be

03:53

drawn remains to be seen. Right.

03:55

There's is not an indictment

03:56

that we're talking about.

03:57

That means that

03:58

we're not speaking of a grand jury

03:59

having rendered a conclusion,

04:01

not as to guilt.

04:02

That's not what grand jurors do,

04:03

but as to reasons to believe

04:05

that a crime was committed

04:06

and he committed them. Having said that.

04:08

Whenever you have a raid

04:10

and an investigation,

04:12

these things need to be really

04:14

predicated upon. Right.

04:16

The precursor for this to happen

04:18

would be some probable cause.

04:20

What is that probable cause?

04:22

We don't know.

04:23

But let's go back

04:24

to what Josh Campbell talked about,

04:25

which are those various lawsuits.

04:28

Now, lawsuits are civil

04:29

actions in nature.

04:30

They are not criminal at all.

04:32

But what they do

04:33

is they give authorities

04:34

some guidelines and guideposts

04:36

with respect to alleged conduct

04:38

that was engaged

04:39

in with regard to who it was engaged in,

04:42

what activities there were,

04:43

what it involved

04:45

in, so that if there's an investigation,

04:47

could serve

04:47

as a source of plentiful

04:49

information,

04:50

that information

04:51

could be further investigated right

04:53

by certainly the

04:55

this Homeland Security Agency.

04:57

And as a result of that,

04:58

they can work

04:58

with their local law

04:59

enforcement partners.

05:00

What does that mean?

05:02

It means that they collectively,

05:04

law enforcement,

05:05

try to determine

05:06

whether there's reason to believe

05:07

that crimes were committed

05:09

and what those crimes carried out

05:12

and associated in any way.

05:14

We don't know.

05:15

You know, with Sean Combs in

05:17

so that remains to be seen.

05:18

But before authorities,

05:20

Wolf, can get into the home

05:22

or property of anyone.

05:24

You have to establish some

05:25

some firm basis to do that.

05:27

And that is what at least

05:28

we can conclude that

05:30

they had reason to believe

05:31

that there were crimes

05:32

involving sex trafficking, apparently,

05:34

and that these areas potentially

05:36

can give more information

05:38

with respect to the specifics.

05:39

And I think they would be looking

05:41

for computer devices and other devices

05:43

which would seem to indicate

05:45

or give information

05:46

as to whether there was any criminality

05:48

very early in the process.

05:50

But certainly we know

05:51

that these have been carried out

05:53

and we'll see what,

05:53

if any, information is gleaned

05:55

to be suggestive of any criminality.

05:58

Very interesting.

05:58

Josh, let me get back to you.

06:00

You know the FBI very well.

06:02

Under

06:02

what circumstances

06:04

would raids like these be conducted?

06:07

Well, this would require,

06:08

if it is indeed a search

06:09

that's being conducted,

06:10

it would require federal officers

06:11

in this case

06:12

with homeland Security investigations

06:14

going to

06:15

a judge and seeking a warrant

06:17

indicating that we believe

06:18

that evidence of a crime

06:21

could be located in these residences.

06:23

And then this third party, an independent

06:25

judge, has to approve that warrant

06:27

and then you see

06:28

take place

06:28

what's happening now on our screen,

06:30

particularly with a focus on you see that

06:32

large RV looking vehicle there.

06:34

This is the mobile command post

06:36

that federal agencies will send

06:37

whenever they're going to be somewhere

06:39

likely for a long time.

06:41

I mean, if you look at these residences,

06:42

we're talking about very large estates.

06:44

And so as Joey was mentioning,

06:46

something as simple

06:46

as a thumb drive

06:48

or anywhere

06:49

where electronic media could be stored.

06:52

If it's on that warrant,

06:53

authorities can search

06:54

that residence

06:55

top to bottom,

06:56

looking for any type of device,

06:58

any type of storage

06:59

mechanism that fits

07:01

within the four corners

07:02

of that search warrant.

07:03

Now, again,

07:03

again, I'll caution we don't know

07:04

specifically why they were there.

07:07

It does tell us, I think, that, you know,

07:08

just because you see that large posture

07:10

of all of these federal vehicles

07:12

that are there,

07:12

including this mobile command post,

07:14

this was likely not something

07:15

as simple as an arrest

07:16

where you show up and you tell you

07:17

you find a person that you're seeking,

07:20

but likely more

07:21

along the lines of a search warrant,

07:22

which falls in line

07:23

with what HCA told us in that statement

07:25

when they say law enforcement actions.

07:27

That's, you know,

07:28

something that we often hear

07:29

from federal agents as a euphemism

07:30

for conducting some type of search.

07:33

But again, both of these residences,

07:34

both where I am here

07:36

in L.A.,

07:36

it's just a few miles here

07:37

from the CNN bureau

07:39

where this search is taking place.

07:40

Also in Miami,

07:41

you see this

07:42

large cadre of federal agencies

07:44

descending on those homes.

07:46

Again, the big question now,

07:47

what are they looking for?

07:48

We're waiting for specifics on that

07:50

as this search continues. And, Joey.

07:52

Video shows also shows

07:54

heavily armed agents

07:56

entering Diddy's home.

07:58

How unusual is that?

08:01

So it's not unusual.

08:02

I mean,

08:02

I think that what law enforcement does

08:04

is certainly

08:05

they want to be protective of themselves,

08:07

potentially to deter any type of activity

08:10

that could occur of a criminal variety.

08:12

Not that there would be any,

08:13

but you never know.

08:14

And so as a result of that,

08:16

once they are armed,

08:17

not only armed literally,

08:19

but armed with respect to a warrant,

08:22

you know,

08:22

that would suggest that they have reason

08:25

to be there, that there's criminality

08:26

that would be afoot potentially.

08:28

They go law enforcement does,

08:30

and they make sure that

08:31

the area is secure

08:32

such that they can get any information

08:35

that warrant

08:36

so that they can continue to investigate.

08:38

Very important to note, Wolf,

08:39

that these and investigative stages,

08:41

warrants are typical in

08:42

any type of investigation. Right.

08:44

This is the United States of America.

08:46

Everyone has rights,

08:47

but you don't get into someone's home

08:48

without establishing

08:50

that there may be some what we call

08:51

indicia of criminality.

08:53

They now law enforcement

08:54

will evaluate

08:55

whatever they find

08:56

in connection with this search.

08:58

And if that search bears fruit

09:00

with respect

09:01

to any potential criminality

09:02

on any computer devices,

09:04

any cell phone devices, any,

09:06

you know,

09:06

thumb drives or anything else,

09:08

then they will connect the dots.

09:09

And if it's appropriate,

09:10

they'll move to the next level.

09:12

And that could lead to

09:13

something more serious.

09:14

Again, all speculation at this point.

09:16

But we know

09:16

now that they certainly had

09:18

enough information

09:19

to be in California and Miami.

09:21

What stems from that remains to be seen.

09:24

Joey Jackson, Josh Campbell,

09:25

to both of you, thank

09:26

you very, very much.

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