Diddy could be ousted from courtroom for attempting to influence jurors during trial
The federal judge in the Sean "Diddy" Combs' sex-crimes case threatened to oust the embattled music mogul from court for the remainder of his highly publicized trial on Thursday.
Judge Arun Subramanian slammed Combs shortly after the jury was excused for a lunch break on Thursday, June 5, admonishing him for attempting to influence jurors. While speaking directly to Combs' lead attorney Marc Agnifilo, the judge said that "I was very clear there were not to be any facial expressions or any attempts to influence the jury."
During the cross-examination of Bryana "Bana" Bongolan, a fashion designer and friend of Combs' ex-girlfriend Casandra "Cassie" Ventura Fine, Subramanian told Agnifilo that "your client was looking at the jury and nodding vigorously."
Combs, 55, was arrested in September and charged with sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty.
The judge said if any attempt to influence jurors happened again, even one more time, he would speak to the jury about it and may have Combs removed from the courtroom for the duration of the trial.
During her two days of testimony in Combs' trial, Bongolan has testified about harrowing alleged experiences at Combs' hands, testifying in court that he dangled her over a 17-story balcony and threatened to kill her.
After she "was held over a 17-story balcony" by Combs, Bongolan testified that the rapper threw her on balcony furniture, and she was left with a bruise on the back of her leg, as well as neck and back pain. She told the court she still experiences night terrors, paranoia and screaming in her sleep.
Diddy allegedly told Cassie's friend Bryana Bongolan 'I'm the devil'
Bongolan, still a friend of Ventura Fine, testified Wednesday, June 4, that the former hip-hop mogul told her "I'm the devil, and I could kill you," in a rage. While she was at the beach with Ventura Fine and a photographer friend doing an impromptu photoshoot, Combs came close to her face and made the startling comments.
Bongolan, who said she was likely using cocaine at the time, described being "terrified." She added that she wasn't sure why Combs said that to her, or what prompted his alleged rage.
But in Manhattan court on Thursday, June 5, Combs' attorneys pushed back on Bongolan's testimony and pointed out photos the designer took of her bruises after the alleged incident were from the same date Combs was on the East Coast, performing and attending a charity event.
“Ma'am, you agree that one person can’t be in two places at the same time?” Combs' attorney Nicole Westmoreland asked her.
Contributing: Patrick Ryan, Edward Segarra, Brendan Morrow, Taijuan Moorman