Sean “Diddy” Combs’ courtroom behavior sparks judge’s warning amid ongoing federal trial for racketeering, sex trafficking, and abuse allegations.
NEW YORK, June 6 – In a dramatic turn during Sean “Diddy” Combs’ high-stakes federal trial, Judge Arun Subramanian warned Thursday that the embattled music mogul could be barred from attending his own proceedings if he continued inappropriate behavior aimed at jurors.
The warning came during a sidebar conversation—outside the jury’s presence—after Judge Subramanian observed Combs, 55, “nodding vigorously” toward jurors during cross-examination. The moment reportedly occurred as prosecution witness Bryana Bongolan testified. On Wednesday, Bongolan made explosive allegations that Combs once dangled her off a 17th-story balcony in 2016.
According to CNN, the judge directly admonished Combs’ defense attorney, Marc Agnifilo, stating:
“I looked and I saw your client looking at the jury and nodding vigorously. It is absolutely unacceptable.”
Judge Subramanian reminded the defense that he had previously instructed all parties to avoid theatrics and jury interaction. He further cautioned that if the conduct continued, he may not only deliver a warning to the jury about Combs’ behavior but also bar the defendant from the courtroom altogether.
When asked if the conduct would recur, Agnifilo assured the court that it would not.
The trial, now entering its fourth week, has been marked by harrowing testimony and serious federal charges, including racketeering, sex trafficking, and transportation for the purposes of prostitution. If convicted, Combs faces up to life in prison.
Over the past few weeks, jurors—comprising eight men and four women—have heard disturbing accounts of sexual abuse, manipulation, blackmail, and orchestrated drug-fueled orgies, allegedly referred to as “freak-offs.” These testimonies have come from Combs’ former longtime girlfriend Cassie Ventura and his ex-personal assistant, known publicly as “Mia.”
With each passing day, the trial paints a darker portrait of the once-celebrated music mogul, whose empire now stands overshadowed by federal allegations of systemic abuse and criminal enterprise.