Sean “Diddy” Combs was put on warning during his sex trafficking trial, as the judge overseeing the courtroom scolded him for making facial expressions at the jurors.
“I was very clear there should be no facial expressions to the jury, and I could not have been clearer,” Judge Arun Subramanian told Combs’ attorneys during the lunch break on Thursday. “There was a line of questioning where your client was nodding vigorously and looking at the jury,” he said, adding that it was “absolutely unacceptable.”
“There should be no efforts to have any interactions with this jury,” said Subramanian, asking Combs’ attorney Marc Agnifilo if it would happen again. “No, your honor, it’s not going to happen again,” Agnifilo replied.
The judge said if Combs could not comply with his order, “I will give an instruction to the jury or it could result in the exclusion of your client from the courtroom.”
Combs has often appeared stoic during the court proceedings, but there have been certain testimonies (including that of his former assistant George Kaplan) during which he has peered over at the jurors and nodded. Combs also tends to look at the members of the public and press seated behind him, often giving a gesture of gratitude to those in the friends and family section.
On Thursday, the court heard testimony from Bryana Bongolan, a woman who claims Combs held her over a 17th-floor balcony, and a former romantic partner of Combs’ who is using the pseudonym “Jane.”
Combs is charged with sex trafficking and racketeering. If he’s convicted, he could spend the rest of his life behind bars.
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From Variety US