In an escalation of the criminal investigation against music legend Sean “Diddy” Combs, federal prosecutors are preparing grand jury subpoenas for witnesses to testify in the sex trafficking investigation against him, according to a source familiar with the matter. affair.
Investigators have already interviewed several witnesses and told them to be prepared to testify, the source said, although it is not yet clear when that testimony will occur or how far away federal officials are from determining whether they will file charges. The source spoke on condition of anonymity because the case is ongoing.
The grand jury news, which was first reported by CNN, comes two months after investigators raided Combs' homes in Los Angeles and Miami looking for evidence in a wide-ranging investigation into sex trafficking allegations against the entertainer.
Combs has not been charged with any crime and has denied any wrongdoing. The investigation was launched after three women accused him of rape, assault and other abuse dating back three decades. One of the accusations involved a minor. It is unclear whether those allegations, which Combs denies, are related to the investigation.
Little is known about the federal investigation, including the identities of the alleged victims. People with knowledge of the investigation who were not authorized to speak publicly said federal investigators are seeking flight and telecommunications records related to Combs. In March, investigators searching Combs' Holmby Hills mansion emptied safes, dismantled electronics and left papers scattered in some rooms, sources told The Times.
Federal law enforcement agents searched Sean “Diddy” Combs’ Holmby Hills mansion on March 25.
(Eric Thayer/Associated Press)
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security handles most sex trafficking investigations for the federal government. Legal experts say one reason the agency could be involved in this case is because some of Combs' accusers could be from other countries.
Combs' lawyers have sharply criticized the federal investigation, calling the searches of his homes “militarized” and a “witch hunt.”
Earlier this month, video emerged showing Combs violently attacking his then-girlfriend, Casandra Ventura, the R&B singer known as Cassie, at a Los Angeles hotel in 2016.
An image from security video shows Sean “Diddy” Combs attacking singer Cassie in the hallway of a Los Angeles hotel in March 2016.
(CNN via Associated Press)
The video shows Combs chasing, kicking, dragging and throwing a glass vase at Ventura. It corroborates parts of a civil lawsuit he filed against Combs last year, which was settled a day after being filed in federal court in New York.
Combs posted a video on Instagram apologizing for his behavior in the video.
