Diddy’s Attorney Claims Federal Agents Used “Excessive” Force Against Rapper’s Kids in Home Raids

According to new court filings acquired by All HipHop, Marc Agnifilo, attorney for Sean “Diddy”Combs, has voiced criticism regarding the actions of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) during the rapper’s property raids conducted in March 2024.

Earlier this year, DHS officials executed searches at Diddy’s residences in Miami and Los Angeles, where they reportedly discovered items linked to alleged “freak offs,”firearms, narcotics, and an astonishing 1,000 bottles of baby oil. In the recent legal documents reviewed by All HipHop, Diddy’s defense team described the raids as “brutal”and asserted that they were entirely unnecessary.

“Prosecutors overlooked our offer for dialogue and instead opted for one of the more ruthless and public searches in recent history,”the legal representatives contended.

The court papers detail that more than 100 armed individuals descended upon Diddy’s mansions. They assert that over 30 agents were ready to halt and search a private aircraft intended for Diddy and his children, who were planning to leave for a spring break getaway.

The lawyer emphasized that the “excessive force”used against Diddy’s children was “especially outrageous,”claiming one officer “pressed a semi-automatic rifle against Christian Combs’ head.”Additionally, it was alleged that another agent targeted Justin Combs’ chest with a laser pointer from a semi-automatic rifle, all while the two brothers were “complying with agents’ demands.”

Diddy’s defense argues the raids were an attempt to “sensationalize the case”

In court documents submitted on October 9 and obtained by All HipHop, Marc Agnifilo asserted that the “display of force”exhibited by the DHS during the raids at Diddy’s properties served “no legitimate purpose.”

“Agents descended in military-grade armored vehicles, accompanied by numerous heavily armed personnel in full tactical attire. One might assume they were trying to retake Donbas rather than seize a few phones and computers. This display of force was unjustified—it appeared to be an effort to attract media attention, sensationalize the situation, and depict Mr. Combs as a menace,” he stated.

Agnifilo further contended that the intention behind the raids was to create a sensational scene rather than uncover evidence. He claimed that the searches were conducted in full view of the public to guarantee media coverage, alleging that the DHS beforehand notified the press about the operation to “maximize exposure.”

This filing followed Diddy’s third bail denial after he applied for pre-trial release. The rapper was arrested the previous month on charges related to s*x trafficking.

Beyond his federal charges, the artist is also facing numerous lawsuits alleging abuse and assault. Recently, on October 1, a new group of 120 accusers, represented by Texas attorney Tony Buzbee, lodged various abuse allegations against him.

Diddy’s lawyers accuse DHS of leaking the Cassie Ventura incident video

In the latest developments, Diddy’s attorneys accused the DHS of engaging in “misconduct”by leaking footage from 2016 capturing the rapper assaulting his former girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, to CNN. They also suggested that the U.S. Attorney’s office might have been complicit in this alleged leak.

In their October 9 filing, they claimed that the DHS had breached “grand jury secrecy”by unlawfully disseminating the footage to the media to initiate a smear campaign against their client.

“The tape was leaked to CNN solely to inflict serious damage on Sean Combs’ reputation and his ability to defend against these allegations. Instead of utilizing the footage as trial evidence, alongside other contextual materials, the agents exploited it in the most damaging and prejudicial manner possible,”the document articulated.

Prosecutors, however, have refuted this allegation, clarifying that the video was not obtained through any “grand jury process.”Furthermore, a footnote in the newly submitted document indicated that the DHS was unaware of the video’s existence until CNN published it exclusively.

On October 10, Diddy is scheduled to appear before Judge Arun Subramanian, who is expected to oversee his trial. His legal team aims to expedite the process, hoping to initiate the trial by April or May 2025.

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