Sean ‘Diddy‘ Combs was arrested overnight in New York City after traveling voluntarily to the city, according to his attorney.
Officials have not released details of the chargers against the producer but are expected to unseal his indictment on Tuesday morning.
Combs, 54, was staying at the at the Park Hyatt hotel in midtown Manhattan when he was arrested and is reportedly being held at an FBI field office.
The rapper, formerly known as Puff Daddy, is expected to appear in front of a federal judge after his indictment on undisclosed criminal charges.
Over the past year, Combs has been sued by people who say he subjected them to physical or sexual abuse. He has denied many of those allegations and his lawyer, Marc Agnifilo, called the new indictment an ‘unjust prosecution.’
Cassie’s lawyer declines to comment
In November, Diddy’s former girlfriend, R&B singer Cassie, filed a lawsuit saying he had beaten and raped her for years.
The suit was settled in one day but months later CNN aired hotel security footage showing Combs punching and kicking Cassie and throwing her on a floor.
Cassie’s lawyer Douglas Wigdor has said, ‘In response to the numerous inquiries we have received regarding the indictment of Sean Combs, neither Ms. Ventura nor I have any comment.’
Combs’ lawyer says ‘he is not a criminal’
The rapper’s attorney Marc Agnifilo said in a statement: ‘We are disappointed with the decision to pursue what we believe is an unjust prosecution of Mr. Combs by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
‘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, adoring his children, and working to uplift the Black community.’
‘He is an imperfect person but is not criminal. To his credit Mr. Combs has been nothing but cooperative with this investigation and he voluntarily relocated to New York last week in anticipation of these charges. Please reserve your judgment until you have all the facts. These are the acts of an innocent man with nothing to hide, and he looks forward to clearing his name in court.’
Diddy’s apology video
In May, CNN aired 2016 hotel security video that showed Combs punching, kixcking and dragging his then-girlfriend, the R& B singer Cassie.
The incident closely matched a description in a lawsuit that Cassie, whose legal name is Casandra Ventura.
A few days after the video’s airing, Combs posted an apology video on social media saying he was ‘truly sorry’ and that his actions were ‘inexcusable.’
Rapper’s homes raided in March
Months before his arrest, Diddy’s homes in Miami and Los Angeles were raised by federal agents as part of an ongoing sex trafficking investigation.
Diddy was ‘caught off guard’
NBC reports that Combs was surprised when he was arrested on Monday at the Manhattan hotel where he had been staying.
Combs’ attorney claims the rapper had ‘relocated to New York last week in anticipation of these charges.’
Diddy seen posing with fans before arrest
Diddy spent Monday morning relaxing on the turf in New York’s Central Park before meeting up with his son Christian to wander the streets of Manhattan.
Adoring fans ran up to snap selfies and shake the hand of their idol, who flashed a prized smile from behind a pair of thick superstar sunglasses as he revelled in the attention.
Sean Diddy Combs’ arrest sparks wild reaction on social media: ‘He’s gonna love prison’
Diddy’s previous legal troubles
In 2001, Diddy was acquitted of charges related to a Manhattan nightclub shooting two years earlier that injured three people.
His then-protege, Shyne, was convicted of assault and other charges and served about eight years in prison.
Aubrey O’Day comments on Diddy’s arrest
The former Danity Kane star has been a vocal critic of Combs.
Diddy seen relaxing in Central Park before arrest
A look back at claims against Diddy
A woman said Combs raped her two decades ago when she was 17.
A music producer sued, saying Combs forced him to have sex with prostitutes.
Another woman, April Lampros, said Combs subjected her to ‘terrifying sexual encounters,’ starting when she was a college student in 1994.
Former Danity Kane member Dawn Richard said he groped her and threatened her when she worked for him from 2005 to 2012.
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Diddy arrested latest: New York prosecutors to unseal Sean Combs indictment as he’s held in FBI’s Manhattan field office
