Jake Paul Finally Speaks Out On FBI Raid

CALABASAS, CA — After a week of silence, YouTube star Jake Paul has spoken out about why the FBI raided his Calabasas home last Wednesday.

In a since-deleted YouTube video now available on Twitter, Paul linked the raid to alleged participation in a looting and rioting incident at a George Floyd-related in a Scottsdale, Ariz. mall on May 30. Kevin Watts, a spokesperson for the Scottsdale Police Department, said that an internal investigation showed that Paul was present after the rioters were ordered to leave the premises. Paul was arrested and charged with a trespassing misdemeanor, though the charges were later dropped by the city attorney. It remains unclear how misdemeanor charges would result in a full FBI raid, though sources say the FBI asked the city to drop the cases so it could pursue a more serious investigation.

“To clarify things and set the record straight, the FBI raid is entirely related to the Arizona looting situation, and it is an investigation,” Paul said. Paul criticized people for spreading what he said were false rumors, and vowed to sever ties with anyone “doing malicious things.”

“I don’t put up with bullsh---t, I don’t surround myself with bad people, and if someone does something bad, they will be removed from my life,” said Paul. “My goal right now to continue to focus on myself, boxing, music.”

Jake Paul addresses FBI raid of his home. Jake says it’s “entirely related to Arizona looting situation”. He adds “There are rumors about it having to do with so many other things that have nothing to do with me and my character”. What are your thoughts? pic.twitter.com/px141xd5jX
— Def Noodles (@defnoodles) August 12, 2020

A full tactical team from the FBI raided Paul’s $6.9 million Calabasas home Aug. 5, but the bureau declined to say why because the case is still under investigation. A spokesperson confirmed that no arrests were planned. Later, the agency confirmed that the investigation was related to allegations of "criminal acts" at the mall, according to an article in The Verge.

On the same day, the FBI also raided the Las Vegas home of Paul's long-time friend and collaborator Armani Izadi, who was arrested with him in Scottsdale. TMZ footage shows agents carrying rifles out of the home.

Paul said that he was not involved in any looting or vandalism, and did not condone it. Instead, he said that he stayed in order to document the event. “To be absolutely clear, neither I nor anyone in our group was engage in any shooting or vandalism,” he said. “For context, we spent the day doing our part to peacefully protest one of the most horrific injustices our country has ever seen, which led to us being tear gassed and forced to keep moving on foot. We filmed everything we saw in an effort to share our experience and bring more attention to the anger felt in every neighborhood we traveled through; we were strictly documenting, not engaging.”

In July, Paul threw a raucous house party at his Calabasas home where hundreds of participants were seen not wearing masks or social distancing. Mayor Alicia Weintraub said she was “outraged,” and the city directed the Malibu-Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station to break up any gathering above 10 people, and give $100 citations for anyone not wearing a mask in public.