Rapper Sean "Diddy" Combs' lawyer has sharply criticized US investigators for searching his client's house. There is no justification for the authorities' "excessive demonstration of power and hostility," wrote lawyer Aaron Dyer in a statement that was available to the dpa. This was an ambush attack.

Dyer spoke of a "witch hunt" as a result of "unfounded allegations" made in civil lawsuits against Combs. His client is innocent and will continue to fight to clear his name. Neither Combs nor family members were arrested, and the rapper spoke to the authorities and cooperated, Dyer continued.

Investigators searched two of the musician's houses in the states of California and Florida on Monday. The responsible authority, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), remained silent about the background to the raids in Los Angeles and Miami. Its investigators report to the US Department of Homeland Security.

There have been allegations of sexual violence against the rapper in recent months. Among other things, producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones filed a lawsuit in federal court in New York in February. He accuses the 54-year-old of sexually harassing, drugging and threatening him over a period of more than a year. Combs, one of the hip-hop industry's most successful representatives as well as a record producer, actor and other businesses, had his legal team dismiss the allegations as lies in February.

In December 2023, an unnamed woman filed a lawsuit accusing Combs and two other men of drugging and raping her when she was 17 in the rapper's New York studio in 2003. Previously, three women had filed civil lawsuits against Combs, including his ex-girlfriend, singer Cassie, who accused the rapper of, among other things, sexual abuse, rape, intimidation and physical violence during their relationship. Combs agreed to a settlement with Cassie in November.