Judge threatens to remove Sean ‘Diddy' Combs from court over facial gestures

The Guardian

2 days ago

The judge in the federal sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy trial of Sean 'Diddy' Combs threatened to remove the music mogul from court for looking and nodding at the jury during testimony on Thursday.
During a lunch break after the jury left the room on Thursday, Judge Arun Subramanian said that he saw Combs looking at the jury and 'nodding vigorously' during the cross-examination of Bryana Bongolan, a former graphic designer for Combs and a longtime friend of Combs's former girlfriend, Casandra 'Cassie' Ventura.
The judge warned Combs's lawyers that if he saw it again, it 'could result in the exclusion of your client from the courtroom'.
'There should be no efforts whatsoever to have an interaction with this jury,' the judge added.
Combs's lawyer said that it would not happen again.
Earlier on Thursday, Bongolan resumed the testimony she began on Wednesday. Bongolan previously testified about her friendship with Ventura and described an alleged incident from 2016 in which she says that Combs dangled her from the balcony of Ventura's 17th-floor apartment in Los Angeles for 10 to 15 seconds, before throwing her on to some balcony furniture.
She testified that the incident left her bruised and emotionally scarred and that she experiences nightmares and paranoia.
During cross-examination, Combs's lawyers challenged Bongolan's credibility, citing inconsistencies between her current testimony and prior statements she gave regarding the alleged balcony incident.
On Thursday morning, Combs's lawyers pressed her on the timeline. They claimed that the alleged balcony incident could not have occurred when she alleged because Combs was performing on the east coast for much of September 2016.
Before concluding the cross-examination, Combs's lawyer suggested that Bongolan was lying about the balcony incident and the injuries.
'I can't agree with you,' Bongolan responded, adding that she could not recall the exact date of the alleged incident, but she 'will never forget him holding me on that balcony'.
Another former girlfriend of Combs, who alleges she was abused and made to participate in drug-fueled sex sessions known as 'freak-offs', is also expected to be called to the stand on Thursday.
Testifying under the pseudonym 'Jane', the woman has been described by prosecutors as a single mother who began dating Combs in 2020.
Her testimony is expected to be similar to that of Ventura, Combs's former longtime girlfriend, who testified during the first week of the trial.
Ventura, who dated Combs on and off from 2007 to 2018, told jurors last month that she was subjected to years of physical and emotional abuse during the relationship. She alleged she was coerced, through violence, and blackmail, into taking part in the so-called freak-offs which she said were orchestrated and directed by Combs and involved drugs and male sex workers.
During cross-examination, Combs's attorneys sought to portray Ventura as a willing participant in the freak-offs, framing the encounters as part of a 'swingers lifestyle'.
Now in its fourth week, the trial has featured graphic and emotional testimony from several witnesses. To date, more than 16 witnesses have testified, including the singer Dawn Richard, three of Combs's former assistants, Ventura's mother, and rapper Scott Mescudi, also known as 'Kid Cudi'.
Combs, 55, was arrested in September 2024 and faces federal charges of sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty to all counts.
Prosecutors allege that Combs ran a criminal enterprise since at least 2004 that engaged in or attempted to engage in crimes including sex trafficking, kidnapping, forced labor, arson, bribery, enticement to engage in prostitution and obstruction of justice, with the help of his associates and employees.
While Combs's lawyers have acknowledged his history of domestic violence, they argue that the women participated in the freak-offs consensually and they maintain that Combs is not guilty of sex trafficking or racketeering, or of operating a criminal enterprise.
Prosecutors have said that they may rest their case next week, with the defense expected to begin calling its own witnesses soon after.
However, Combs's lawyers have signaled that their presentation may take longer than anticipated, potentially extending the trial into early July.
If convicted on all counts, Combs could face life in prison.
The Associated Press contributed reporting
In the US, the domestic violence hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). In the UK, call the national domestic abuse helpline on 0808 2000 247, or visit Women's Aid. In Australia, the national family violence counselling service is on 1800 737 732. Other international helplines may be found via www.befrienders.org.