Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ children hired mobster John Gotti Junior’s former lawyer after being handcuffed and escorted by federal investigators during a raid on the rapper’s home last week.
Combs’ sons, Christian, 25, and Justin, 30, hired attorney Jeffrey Lichtman to investigate “excessive use of force” in the Homeland Security raid, according to their mother.
In an Instagram post, Lichtman, who has also represented figures such as drug trafficker Joaquín ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán, called the searches “exaggerated” and confirmed that he represents at least one of the children.
“The government rarely fights fair when it has an important target in its sights, and it certainly hasn’t played fair in the Diddy case so far,” Lichtman wrote.
Christian and Justin’s mother, Misa Hylton, shared a video of the raid on Combs’ Los Angeles home, calling it racist and “overtly militarized.”
Attorney Jeffrey Lichtman to investigate ‘excessive use of force’ by Comb’s son, Christian and Justin
Combs’ sons Christian, 25 (right) and Justin, 30 (left), were briefly detained and then released without charge during the raid on Combs’ Los Angeles mansion.
The video showed Justin and Christian, also known as King, Combs being led through the mansion at gunpoint, with one of them slammed against a wall and handcuffed.
Other clips revealed the scale of the raid as tanks surrounded the house and drones were deployed to sweep the property.
In an Instagram post, Hylton harshly criticized the officers who conducted the raid.
“The overzealous and openly militarized force used against my sons Justin and Christian is deplorable,” he wrote.
‘If these were the children of a non-black celebrity, they would not have been treated with the same aggression.
‘The attempt to humiliate and terrorize these innocent BLACK youth is despicable!
‘Enough is enough! Did Justin need several laser beams from firearms aimed at his chest? Did Christian need a gun to be pointed at the back of his head while he was handcuffed?
‘How many times have we seen young, unarmed BLACK MEN not get out of these types of situations alive?
Homeland Security Investigations agents who raided Diddy’s home on Monday seized surveillance footage of them entering his Los Angeles-area mansion amid allegations of sex trafficking, according to TMZ.
Federal agents are seen inside Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ home in Los Angeles.
The mother of two of Sean Diddy Combs’ children, Misa Hylton, has shared images of the help at the rapper’s Los Angeles mansion, calling it an “overtly militarized force.”
Armed agents entered luxury properties on the east and west coasts of the United States
Exactly what precipitated the raids on Combs’ properties on March 25 has not yet been revealed.
Hylton suggested that Diddy’s race played a role in the federal agent’s actions during the raids.
Adding: ‘My son’s attorney, Jeffrey Lichtman, is investigating the excessive use of force, which was unnecessary and certainly not required by this search warrant.
‘We will fight for justice using every resource imaginable. I’m not with the propaganda!!!’
Lichtman successfully represented John Gotti Jr in 2005, securing a dismissal of three counts of conspiracy to murder, an acquittal on a $25 million fraud charge, and a hung jury on all other charges in the case.
This is also not his first time representing music industry clients, having represented rapper The Game and Fat Joe.
Justin and Christian were briefly detained and then released without charge during the raid.
Combs was seen looking carefree over the weekend while heading out for a smoke and a stroll along a Miami pier.
Exactly what precipitated the raids on Combs’ properties on March 25 has not yet been revealed.
However, they came just a month after music producer Rodney ‘Lil Rod’ Jones filed an explosive lawsuit against the rapper accusing him of serious illegal activities, including sexual assault.
Combs has denied the allegations and settled with Ventura out of court. Pictured: Diddy’s sprawling Los Angeles estate
Agents arrived at his properties in Miami and Los Angeles as part of their investigation into alleged sex trafficking.
Jones’ appearances were preceded by a lawsuit from Combs’ ex-girlfriend, singer Cassie Ventura.
Ventura settled out of court with Combs for $30 million after accusing him of beating, raping and drugging her throughout their relationship.
At the time the feds struck, Diddy was said to be trying to board his private jet to fly to the Bahamas to spend time with his 17-year-old twin daughters.
His alleged drug mule, Brendan Paul, 25, was attempting to board with him before he was intercepted by police at a Miami-area airport.
The former college athlete was referred to as Diddy’s ‘drug mule’ in Jones’ $30 million lawsuit.
The complaint, one of five filed against Cobs since November, alleged that he was involved in “acquiring and distributing drugs and weapons from Mr. Combs.”
It was not confirmed whether Paul’s arrest was related to the allegations in the lawsuit or the raids on Diddy’s properties.
Jones claimed in the lawsuit that he “personally witnessed” Paul “acquiring and distributing” drugs to Combs and his entourage, and transporting or intending to transport drugs in flight luggage.
Combs has denied all allegations against him and claimed he is the victim of a “witch hunt.”
Aaron Dyer, the rapper’s attorney, broke Combs’ silence just over 24 hours after the Homeland Security investigation with a statement to DailyMail.com.
‘Yesterday there was a serious excessive use of force at a military level when search warrants were executed at Mr. Combs’ residences.
“There is no excuse for the excessive show of force and hostility shown by the authorities or the way they treated their children and employees,” Dyer said.
During the raid, two of Diddy’s children were detained to allow officers to carry out their warrant as is customary.