Sean 'Diddy' Combs arrested in New York after federal indictment

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00:00Throughout his career, Sean Combs has tried to cultivate his image as an unapologetic

00:06rapper, a smooth party planner, or as a fashion-forward businessman, but they're images that are

00:12becoming harder to defend.

00:15Combs, known professionally as P. Diddy, was arrested by federal agents in Manhattan on

00:20Monday.

00:21His lawyer said he'd been cooperating with the investigation and had relocated to New

00:25York last week in anticipation of charges.

00:29We are disappointed with the decision to pursue what we believe is an unjust prosecution

00:33of Mr. Combs by the U.S. Attorney's Office.

00:37Details of the charges were not immediately made public, but the 54-year-old is facing

00:42a string of civil lawsuits.

00:44It follows raids on his homes in L.A. and Miami in March, which indicated a criminal

00:49case was mounting.

00:51The first suit was filed in November last year by singer Cassie, whose real name is

00:56Cassandra Ventura.

00:58She alleged Combs, who she dated between 2007 and 2018, subjected her to more than

01:04a decade of abuse, violence and trafficking, and raped her in 2018.

01:09The case was settled a day later out of court, but it opened a floodgate of other lawsuits

01:15with allegations dating back to the early 90s.

01:18One filed by a woman in December alleges that he and others gang-raped her when she was

01:2317.

01:25In a statement by his lawyer, the artist denied what he called a series of false claims.

01:31As the founder of Bad Boy Records, Combs became an influential figure in American hip-hop.

01:37Along with the notorious B.I.G., he collaborated with a host of top artists, including Mary

01:43J. Blige, Usher and Lil' Kim.

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