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

Breaking news.

The Department of Homeland Security

has just confirmed

to CNN

that federal law enforcement

agents have raided

properties owned by musician and producer

Sean Diddy Combs.

Let's bring in CNN security

correspondent Josh Campbell

and CNN legal analyst Joey Jackson.

Josh, let me start with you.

What are these raids by federal agents

in multiple locations?

Tell you about the seriousness

of this investigation.

Yeah, Wolf,

a very significant

development here,

seeing this law enforcement

action taking place.

I'll point out,

just to be clear at the outset,

we don't know that Sean Diddy Combs

himself is the subject

or target of a federal investigation.

So it's just worth

pointing that out at this hour.

But what we do know

is that two properties

associated with him.

We saw the feds descend

on those properties.

We saw an aerial footage.

Federal agents both here in the Los

Angeles area

as well as in Miami at those residences.

Now, the Department of Homeland Security,

they're what's called

HFC Homeland Security Investigations,

gave CNN a statement.

I'll read you part of that

when asked about what this activity is.

They say that earlier today,

HCA in New York

executed law enforcement actions

as part of an ongoing investigation

with assistance from HCA,

Los Angeles HCA, Miami,

and our local law enforcement partners.

That is it, confirming

that they are conducting

what they're deeming

law enforcement action,

which could

indicate a search warrants

being conducted

there, could indicate arrests

being conducted.

We just don't know at this hour

specifically what

that law enforcement action is.

It is worth pointing out, though,

that Combs himself

obviously has faced

significant legal woes in recent months.

I'll give you just

kind of the highlights of what

actually occurred.

In November,

he was sued for rape

and abuse by a former partner.

That Suttle that lawsuit was

then settled very quickly.

But in December,

he faced

sexual assault allegations in a complaint

filed in the Southern

District of New York.

The suit was brought by a woman

referred to as Jane Doe, who said that

she was 17 at the time

when these allegations took place.

And back in 2003, he was accused of sex

trafficking and gang rape,

among other allegations.

Also in that suit, naming

two of his associates, of course, Combs

denied any wrongdoing there.

And then just last month, a former

employee of Combs filed a suit

also in the state of New York,

accusing him of sexual assault

of sexual harassment

and, quote, grooming.

That former employee stated

that he had

worked for Combs between 2022 and 2023.

Among those allegations,

this former employee,

a male employee, said that Combs

did not compensate him

for his music

production work and forced him to procure

and interact with sex workers,

threatened him with serving

alcoholic beverages

laced with drugs

to guests at parties at Combs home.

And then Combs son Sean.

Justin Combs

son Justin Combs

was also

also accused of soliciting prostitutes

and underage girls

at his father's homes against the Combs

have denied any wrongdoing.

But just a series of allegations

that we've seen taking place.

Final point, Wolf, I'll note

is that while we don't know

the specific allegations

or why the feds are at these residences,

it is worth pointing out the agency

that is conducting

this law enforcement activity,

it's not the FBI, it's

not the DEA or the ATF.

This is H.S.

Homeland Security Investigations

for those unfamiliar.

This is an agency that has long

been the forefront

specifically at human

trafficking investigations.

So although we don't have

the specifics yet, we're starting to,

you know,

we can glean

just based on which agency has the lead,

the direction this might go.

But again,

we don't yet know that Combs himself

was the target of the investigation Wolf.

We do know

at this hour

that federal agents

were at two of his homes,

both here in Los Angeles

and in Florida Wolf.

Yeah, important points.

And Joey Jackson, let me repeat.

We don't know.

Sean Diddy Combs

himself is under investigation.

But clearly, Joey, it's not good

if your homes are actually being raided.

No, it's not, Wolf.

And I

think, you know,

whatever conclusions can be

drawn remains to be seen. Right.

There's is not an indictment

that we're talking about.

That means that

we're not speaking of a grand jury

having rendered a conclusion,

not as to guilt.

That's not what grand jurors do,

but as to reasons to believe

that a crime was committed

and he committed them. Having said that.

Whenever you have a raid

and an investigation,

these things need to be really

predicated upon. Right.

The precursor for this to happen

would be some probable cause.

What is that probable cause?

We don't know.

But let's go back

to what Josh Campbell talked about,

which are those various lawsuits.

Now, lawsuits are civil

actions in nature.

They are not criminal at all.

But what they do

is they give authorities

some guidelines and guideposts

with respect to alleged conduct

that was engaged

in with regard to who it was engaged in,

what activities there were,

what it involved

in, so that if there's an investigation,

could serve

as a source of plentiful

information,

that information

could be further investigated right

by certainly the

this Homeland Security Agency.

And as a result of that,

they can work

with their local law

enforcement partners.

What does that mean?

It means that they collectively,

law enforcement,

try to determine

whether there's reason to believe

that crimes were committed

and what those crimes carried out

and associated in any way.

We don't know.

You know, with Sean Combs in

so that remains to be seen.

But before authorities,

Wolf, can get into the home

or property of anyone.

You have to establish some

some firm basis to do that.

And that is what at least

we can conclude that

they had reason to believe

that there were crimes

involving sex trafficking, apparently,

and that these areas potentially

can give more information

with respect to the specifics.

And I think they would be looking

for computer devices and other devices

which would seem to indicate

or give information

as to whether there was any criminality

very early in the process.

But certainly we know

that these have been carried out

and we'll see what,

if any, information is gleaned

to be suggestive of any criminality.

Very interesting.

Josh, let me get back to you.

You know the FBI very well.

Under

what circumstances

would raids like these be conducted?

Well, this would require,

if it is indeed a search

that's being conducted,

it would require federal officers

in this case

with homeland Security investigations

going to

a judge and seeking a warrant

indicating that we believe

that evidence of a crime

could be located in these residences.

And then this third party, an independent

judge, has to approve that warrant

and then you see

take place

what's happening now on our screen,

particularly with a focus on you see that

large RV looking vehicle there.

This is the mobile command post

that federal agencies will send

whenever they're going to be somewhere

likely for a long time.

I mean, if you look at these residences,

we're talking about very large estates.

And so as Joey was mentioning,

something as simple

as a thumb drive

or anywhere

where electronic media could be stored.

If it's on that warrant,

authorities can search

that residence

top to bottom,

looking for any type of device,

any type of storage

mechanism that fits

within the four corners

of that search warrant.

Now, again,

again, I'll caution we don't know

specifically why they were there.

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

just because you see that large posture

of all of these federal vehicles

that are there,

including this mobile command post,

this was likely not something

as simple as an arrest

where you show up and you tell you

you find a person that you're seeking,

but likely more

along the lines of a search warrant,

which falls in line

with what HCA told us in that statement

when they say law enforcement actions.

That's, you know,

something that we often hear

from federal agents as a euphemism

for conducting some type of search.

But again, both of these residences,

both where I am here

in L.A.,

it's just a few miles here

from the CNN bureau

where this search is taking place.

Also in Miami,

you see this

large cadre of federal agencies

descending on those homes.

Again, the big question now,

what are they looking for?

We're waiting for specifics on that

as this search continues. And, Joey.

Video shows also shows

heavily armed agents

entering Diddy's home.

How unusual is that?

So it's not unusual.

I mean,

I think that what law enforcement does

is certainly

they want to be protective of themselves,

potentially to deter any type of activity

that could occur of a criminal variety.

Not that there would be any,

but you never know.

And so as a result of that,

once they are armed,

not only armed literally,

but armed with respect to a warrant,

you know,

that would suggest that they have reason

to be there, that there's criminality

that would be afoot potentially.

They go law enforcement does,

and they make sure that

the area is secure

such that they can get any information

that warrant

so that they can continue to investigate.

Very important to note, Wolf,

that these and investigative stages,

warrants are typical in

any type of investigation. Right.

This is the United States of America.

Everyone has rights,

but you don't get into someone's home

without establishing

that there may be some what we call

indicia of criminality.

They now law enforcement

will evaluate

whatever they find

in connection with this search.

And if that search bears fruit

with respect

to any potential criminality

on any computer devices,

any cell phone devices, any,

you know,

thumb drives or anything else,

then they will connect the dots.

And if it's appropriate,

they'll move to the next level.

And that could lead to

something more serious.

Again, all speculation at this point.

But we know

now that they certainly had

enough information

to be in California and Miami.

What stems from that remains to be seen.

Joey Jackson, Josh Campbell,

to both of you, thank

you very, very much.