Diddy at Meek Mill’s house watching his kids in handcuffs on CNN

Sean “Diddy” Combs’ homes in Miami and Los Angeles were raided on Monday by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with his two sons appearing to be seen in handcuffs outside one of the properties.

The searches are thought to be connected to a federal sex-trafficking investigation based out of New York. In recent months, Combs has faced lawsuits accusing him of sexual assault and trafficking, which he has denied.

Footage appeared to show two men in handcuffs outside Combs’ Holmby Hills home in Los Angeles on Monday. They were later identified as the rapper’s sons, Justin and Christian “King” Combs, sources told ABC News. It is understood the two men were not under arrest but were being detained outside as agents searched the property.

DHS told Newsweek: “Earlier today, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) New York executed law enforcement actions as part of an ongoing investigation, with assistance from HSI Los Angeles, HSI Miami, and our local law enforcement partners. We will provide further information as it becomes available.”

Newsweek emailed a spokesperson for Combs for comment on Tuesday.

HSI agents carried out their operations in the 200 block of S. Mapleton Drive in Holmby Hills. The address is connected to Combs’ production company, Bad Boy Films.

In footage aired by Fox 11, the rapper’s sons appeared to be seen wearing handcuffs while in the garden. Some of the footage was posted to X, formerly Twitter.

“P Diddy’s homes in LA and Miami are presently being raided by the Department of Homeland Security…” one account wrote. At the time of writing, the post had been viewed 3.4 million times.

Another X user uploaded a photo from the footage that appeared to show the two men in handcuffs outside the property. At the time of writing, the post had been viewed 2.5 million times.

Combs appeared at Miami Airport on Monday evening. Some people tracking his private jet after he was questioned by airport customs officials claimed the aircraft later landed on the Caribbean island of Antigua, according to TMZ.

The raids come amid numerous lawsuits filed against Combs, with the rapper denying all allegations.

In February, music producer Rodney “Lil Rod” Jones filed a lawsuit accusing Combs of coercing him to solicit prostitutes and then pressuring him to have sex with them. Jones, who produced several tracks on Combs’ The Love Album: Off the Grid, alleges that he was sexually harassed, drugged and threatened by Combs for more than a year, and is seeking $30 million in damages.

Combs’ attorney Shawn Holley has disputed the allegations, previously telling Newsweek that “we have overwhelming, indisputable proof that his claims are complete lies.”

In 2023, three lawsuits alleging sexual assault were filed against the rapper under the New York Adult Survivors Act, which expired at midnight on November 23.

A woman named Joi Dickerson-Neal filed a lawsuit in November accusing Combs of drugging and sexually assaulting her. The suit alleged that Combs filmed the incident and showed the footage to others in an act described as “revenge porn.” The complaint came days after Combs settled a suit with Cassie Ventura, who accused him of raping, sex trafficking and physically abusing her for nearly a decade.

In December, Combs was hit with another lawsuit over allegations that he trafficked and sexually abused a woman identified as Jane Doe. The suit accuses the rapper of gang rape and sex trafficking.

Combs’ lawyer previously denied these claims in a statement shared with Newsweek, which read: “These are fabricated claims falsely alleging misconduct from over 30 years ago and filed at the last minute. This is nothing but a money grab.

“Because of Mr. Combs’ fame and success, he is an easy target for anonymous accusers who lie without conscience or consequence for financial benefit. The New York Legislature surely did not intend or expect the Adult Survivors Act to be exploited by scammers. The public should be skeptical and not rush to accept these bogus allegations.”

Following Monday’s raids, attorney Douglas Wigdor, who represents Ventura and the anonymous plaintiff, issued this statement: “We will always support law enforcement when it seeks to prosecute those that have violated the law. Hopefully, this is the beginning of a process that will hold Mr. Combs responsible for his depraved conduct.”