Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Arrested in New York
Musician and producer Sean “Diddy” Combs has been arrested in New York City. Combs was taken into custody by Homeland Security Investigations agents at the Park Hyatt Hotel in Manhattan on Monday evening around 8:15 p.m. The exact charges remain unknown as they are part of a sealed indictment.
Negotiations surrounding Combs’ surrender had been ongoing prior to the arrest, with the indictment being voted on earlier the same day. Combs’ attorney, Marc Agnifilo, expressed disappointment with the prosecution, calling it an “unjust” pursuit by the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Agnifilo emphasized that Combs has been cooperating fully, relocating to New York in anticipation of potential charges, and insisted on his client’s innocence.
In a statement, Agnifilo said, “Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is a music icon, self-made entrepreneur, loving family man, and proven philanthropist who has spent the last 30 years building an empire… He is an imperfect person but is not criminal.” He urged the public to withhold judgment until all facts are known, insisting that Combs is cooperating fully and has “nothing to hide.”
U.S. Attorney Damian Williams confirmed the arrest and stated that further details would be provided after the indictment is unsealed. This development follows a months-long sex trafficking investigation by Homeland Security, which also included searches of Combs’ homes in Los Angeles and Miami earlier this year.
Combs has faced ten lawsuits since November, nine of which accuse him of sexual assault. Federal investigators reportedly escalated the case by preparing to present witnesses before a grand jury earlier this year. Despite repeatedly denying all allegations, Combs issued a public apology after footage of him assaulting his former girlfriend, Cassandra Ventura, in 2016.
Attorney Tyrone Blackburn, representing three of Combs’ accusers, described the arrest as “long-awaited.” He added, “This is an important step towards justice for all of Mr. Combs’ victims, including my clients. Justice will prevail.”