Diddy’s attorney blasted the “military-level force” federal authorities used while raiding the rapper’s Florida and California homes Monday.
The hip hop mogul is being investigated for sex-trafficking according to law enforcement sources, allegations which his attorney, Aaron Dyer, have blasted as a “witch hunt.”
“Yesterday, there was a gross overuse of military-level force as search warrants were executed at Mr. Combs’ residences,” Dyer told TMZ.
“There is no excuse for the excessive show of force and hostility exhibited by authorities or the way his children and employees were treated.”
Diddy’s sons Justin, 30, and King, 25, Combs were briefly cuffed and detained after being removed from the LA house, but were not arrested and are not thought to be part of the federal investigation.
Authorities targeted 54-year-old Diddy’s two residences in Los Angeles and Miami to seize his phones and computers, law enforcement sources told The Post.
“This unprecedented ambush — paired with an advanced, coordinated media presence — leads to a premature rush to judgment of Mr. Combs and is nothing more than a witch hunt based on meritless accusations made in civil lawsuits,” Dyer added.
Diddy, also known as Sean Combs, was not arrested or charged “but spoke to and cooperated with authorities,” his lawyer said. His travel has not been restricted in any way, he added.
The Homeland Security Investigations Human Trafficking Task Force conducted the raids based on a search warrant issued by the Southern District of New York.
At least four Jane Does and one John Doe have been interviewed by New York prosecutors in connection to sex-trafficking allegations and a RICO case, Rolling Stone reported.
Diddy’s employee, Brendon Paul, 25, was busted at Miami’s Opa Locka Airport on Monday when federal authorities caught up to him while he was about to board a private plane with Diddy, who was spotted at the same airport that afternoon talking on his phone and pacing.
Paul was booked on one count of possession of suspected cocaine and suspected marijuana edibles after substances in his bag tested positive for drugs, according to a police report obtained by The Post.
He has since been bailed out of jail.
Diddy has vehemently denied all allegations against him.
Combs came under fire last year after his ex-girlfriend Casandra Ventura sued him, alleging she experienced years of sexual abuse from the rapper.
The case was almost immediately settled.
He is also facing several lawsuits accusing him of sexual abuse, which he has also denied.
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