Breaking news.
The Department of Homeland Security
has just confirmed
to CNN
that federal law enforcement
agents have raided
properties owned by musician and producer
Sean Diddy Combs.
Let's bring in CNN security
correspondent Josh Campbell
and CNN legal analyst Joey Jackson.
Josh, let me start with you.
What are these raids by federal agents
in multiple locations?
Tell you about the seriousness
of this investigation.
Yeah, Wolf,
a very significant
development here,
seeing this law enforcement
action taking place.
I'll point out,
just to be clear at the outset,
we don't know that Sean Diddy Combs
himself is the subject
or target of a federal investigation.
So it's just worth
pointing that out at this hour.
But what we do know
is that two properties
associated with him.
We saw the feds descend
on those properties.
We saw an aerial footage.
Federal agents both here in the Los
Angeles area
as well as in Miami at those residences.
Now, the Department of Homeland Security,
they're what's called
HFC Homeland Security Investigations,
gave CNN a statement.
I'll read you part of that
when asked about what this activity is.
They say that earlier today,
HCA in New York
executed law enforcement actions
as part of an ongoing investigation
with assistance from HCA,
Los Angeles HCA, Miami,
and our local law enforcement partners.
That is it, confirming
that they are conducting
what they're deeming
law enforcement action,
which could
indicate a search warrants
being conducted
there, could indicate arrests
being conducted.
We just don't know at this hour
specifically what
that law enforcement action is.
It is worth pointing out, though,
that Combs himself
obviously has faced
significant legal woes in recent months.
I'll give you just
kind of the highlights of what
actually occurred.
In November,
he was sued for rape
and abuse by a former partner.
That Suttle that lawsuit was
then settled very quickly.
But in December,
he faced
sexual assault allegations in a complaint
filed in the Southern
District of New York.
The suit was brought by a woman
referred to as Jane Doe, who said that
she was 17 at the time
when these allegations took place.
And back in 2003, he was accused of sex
trafficking and gang rape,
among other allegations.
Also in that suit, naming
two of his associates, of course, Combs
denied any wrongdoing there.
And then just last month, a former
employee of Combs filed a suit
also in the state of New York,
accusing him of sexual assault
of sexual harassment
and, quote, grooming.
That former employee stated
that he had
worked for Combs between 2022 and 2023.
Among those allegations,
this former employee,
a male employee, said that Combs
did not compensate him
for his music
production work and forced him to procure
and interact with sex workers,
threatened him with serving
alcoholic beverages
laced with drugs
to guests at parties at Combs home.
And then Combs son Sean.
Justin Combs
son Justin Combs
was also
also accused of soliciting prostitutes
and underage girls
at his father's homes against the Combs
have denied any wrongdoing.
But just a series of allegations
that we've seen taking place.
Final point, Wolf, I'll note
is that while we don't know
the specific allegations
or why the feds are at these residences,
it is worth pointing out the agency
that is conducting
this law enforcement activity,
it's not the FBI, it's
not the DEA or the ATF.
This is H.S.
Homeland Security Investigations
for those unfamiliar.
This is an agency that has long
been the forefront
specifically at human
trafficking investigations.
So although we don't have
the specifics yet, we're starting to,
you know,
we can glean
just based on which agency has the lead,
the direction this might go.
But again,
we don't yet know that Combs himself
was the target of the investigation Wolf.
We do know
at this hour
that federal agents
were at two of his homes,
both here in Los Angeles
and in Florida Wolf.
Yeah, important points.
And Joey Jackson, let me repeat.
We don't know.
Sean Diddy Combs
himself is under investigation.
But clearly, Joey, it's not good
if your homes are actually being raided.
No, it's not, Wolf.
And I
think, you know,
whatever conclusions can be
drawn remains to be seen. Right.
There's is not an indictment
that we're talking about.
That means that
we're not speaking of a grand jury
having rendered a conclusion,
not as to guilt.
That's not what grand jurors do,
but as to reasons to believe
that a crime was committed
and he committed them. Having said that.
Whenever you have a raid
and an investigation,
these things need to be really
predicated upon. Right.
The precursor for this to happen
would be some probable cause.
What is that probable cause?
We don't know.
But let's go back
to what Josh Campbell talked about,
which are those various lawsuits.
Now, lawsuits are civil
actions in nature.
They are not criminal at all.
But what they do
is they give authorities
some guidelines and guideposts
with respect to alleged conduct
that was engaged
in with regard to who it was engaged in,
what activities there were,
what it involved
in, so that if there's an investigation,
could serve
as a source of plentiful
information,
that information
could be further investigated right
by certainly the
this Homeland Security Agency.
And as a result of that,
they can work
with their local law
enforcement partners.
What does that mean?
It means that they collectively,
law enforcement,
try to determine
whether there's reason to believe
that crimes were committed
and what those crimes carried out
and associated in any way.
We don't know.
You know, with Sean Combs in
so that remains to be seen.
But before authorities,
Wolf, can get into the home
or property of anyone.
You have to establish some
some firm basis to do that.
And that is what at least
we can conclude that
they had reason to believe
that there were crimes
involving sex trafficking, apparently,
and that these areas potentially
can give more information
with respect to the specifics.
And I think they would be looking
for computer devices and other devices
which would seem to indicate
or give information
as to whether there was any criminality
very early in the process.
But certainly we know
that these have been carried out
and we'll see what,
if any, information is gleaned
to be suggestive of any criminality.
Very interesting.
Josh, let me get back to you.
You know the FBI very well.
Under
what circumstances
would raids like these be conducted?
Well, this would require,
if it is indeed a search
that's being conducted,
it would require federal officers
in this case
with homeland Security investigations
going to
a judge and seeking a warrant
indicating that we believe
that evidence of a crime
could be located in these residences.
And then this third party, an independent
judge, has to approve that warrant
and then you see
take place
what's happening now on our screen,
particularly with a focus on you see that
large RV looking vehicle there.
This is the mobile command post
that federal agencies will send
whenever they're going to be somewhere
likely for a long time.
I mean, if you look at these residences,
we're talking about very large estates.
And so as Joey was mentioning,
something as simple
as a thumb drive
or anywhere
where electronic media could be stored.
If it's on that warrant,
authorities can search
that residence
top to bottom,
looking for any type of device,
any type of storage
mechanism that fits
within the four corners
of that search warrant.
Now, again,
again, I'll caution we don't know
specifically why they were there.
It does tell us, I think, that, you know,
just because you see that large posture
of all of these federal vehicles
that are there,
including this mobile command post,
this was likely not something
as simple as an arrest
where you show up and you tell you
you find a person that you're seeking,
but likely more
along the lines of a search warrant,
which falls in line
with what HCA told us in that statement
when they say law enforcement actions.
That's, you know,
something that we often hear
from federal agents as a euphemism
for conducting some type of search.
But again, both of these residences,
both where I am here
in L.A.,
it's just a few miles here
from the CNN bureau
where this search is taking place.
Also in Miami,
you see this
large cadre of federal agencies
descending on those homes.
Again, the big question now,
what are they looking for?
We're waiting for specifics on that
as this search continues. And, Joey.
Video shows also shows
heavily armed agents
entering Diddy's home.
How unusual is that?
So it's not unusual.
I mean,
I think that what law enforcement does
is certainly
they want to be protective of themselves,
potentially to deter any type of activity
that could occur of a criminal variety.
Not that there would be any,
but you never know.
And so as a result of that,
once they are armed,
not only armed literally,
but armed with respect to a warrant,
you know,
that would suggest that they have reason
to be there, that there's criminality
that would be afoot potentially.
They go law enforcement does,
and they make sure that
the area is secure
such that they can get any information
that warrant
so that they can continue to investigate.
Very important to note, Wolf,
that these and investigative stages,
warrants are typical in
any type of investigation. Right.
This is the United States of America.
Everyone has rights,
but you don't get into someone's home
without establishing
that there may be some what we call
indicia of criminality.
They now law enforcement
will evaluate
whatever they find
in connection with this search.
And if that search bears fruit
with respect
to any potential criminality
on any computer devices,
any cell phone devices, any,
you know,
thumb drives or anything else,
then they will connect the dots.
And if it's appropriate,
they'll move to the next level.
And that could lead to
something more serious.
Again, all speculation at this point.
But we know
now that they certainly had
enough information
to be in California and Miami.
What stems from that remains to be seen.
Joey Jackson, Josh Campbell,
to both of you, thank
you very, very much.