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(NewsNation) — Sean “Diddy” Combs is reportedly the subject of a federal criminal investigation in New York, with a grand jury hearing evidence of alleged sex trafficking by the rap mogul.
“When you’re the subject of an investigation, you are being reviewed to see whether or not you possibly committed some crimes,” former federal prosecutor Maria Cruz Melendez told NewsNation’s “Elizabeth Vargas Reports.”
“You could ultimately be found to be just a witness … or the government could find that you have, in fact, committed alleged crimes.”
Neither Combs’ attorneys nor the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York would comment on the report from NBC News. Prosecutors may invite Combs to appear before the grand jury, which Melendez says would not be in Combs’ interest.
“They’re going to be looking for admissions … admissions that they can use against him if they’re able to get an indictment and then take him to trial," she said.
Melendez says it’s likely Combs would invoke his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and decline an invitation to appear before a grand jury. The reported criminal investigation comes on the heels of a tenth civil lawsuit filed against Combs since November.
In the latest suit, former adult film actress Adria English says that, between 2004 and 2009, Combs forced her to take drugs and have sex with guests at Combs’ “white parties” at his homes in New York and Miami. Combs' attorney, Jonathan Davis, called the allegations "baseless" in a statement issued to Entertainment Weekly.
Last month, Combs returned his key to New York City after a request from Mayor Eric Adams. The mayor’s office sent letters asking for the key following the release of the video showing Combs attacking R&B singer Cassandra “Cassie” Ventura in a Los Angeles hotel hallway in 2016. Combs has said he is “truly sorry” for the attack on Cassie.
Also, in the last few weeks, Combs returned the honorary degree bestowed by Howard University. The school also removed Combs from all documents and disbanded Combs’ scholarship program.
And Combs sold off his stake in Revolt, the media company he founded more than a decade ago. The company did not reveal how much Combs was paid for his stake.
