00:00 U.S. Department of Homeland Security agents have opened an investigation of hip-hop star
00:07 Sean "Diddy" Combs, searching properties connected to him in Los Angeles and Miami.
00:13 The inquiry was being directed by Homeland Security Investigations agents in New York,
00:18 where he was accused by a former girlfriend in a lawsuit filed in federal court in November
00:23 of engaging in sex trafficking.
00:25 The statement did not elaborate on the nature of the investigation.
00:29 R&B vocalist Cassandra Ventura sued Combs in federal court in Manhattan in mid-November,
00:35 accusing the rapper and hip-hop executive she once dated and whose music label she signed
00:40 with of subjecting her to serial, physical abuse, sexual slavery, and rape.
00:47 The lawsuit also accused Combs of regularly beating Ventura over the course of a 10-year
00:52 professional and romantic relationship in which he controlled her through intimidation
00:57 and by plying her with drugs and alcohol.
01:00 The lawsuit cited violations of sex trafficking and human trafficking statutes under federal
01:06 New York and California laws.
01:09 Combs, through his lawyer, has denied the allegations.
01:12 Combs, founder of the landmark label Bad Boy Records, is one of the most influential producers
01:17 and executives in hip-hop and a hugely successful performer in his own right, as well as the
01:23 impresario of his own Sean John clothing line.
01:27 Combs is a licensed professional.
01:28 He has no relation to or is associated with any company or group.
01:29 He is a licensed professional and does not have any business affiliations with or is
01:30 associated with any company or group.
01:30 Combs is a licensed professional and does not have any business affiliations with or
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