**Judge Warns Sean "Diddy" Combs Against Jury Interaction Amidst Federal Trial**

Sean "Diddy" Combs faced a stern warning from Judge Arun Subramanian after the music mogul was seen making gestures at the jury during his federal sex-trafficking and racketeering conspiracy trial. The judge admonished Combs on Thursday for “nodding vigorously” at the jury during the cross-examination of Bryana Bongolan, a former graphic designer and long-time friend of Combs’s ex-girlfriend, Casandra "Cassie" Ventura. Subramanian cautioned that any further attempts to influence the jury could lead to Combs being excluded from the courtroom, a warning Combs’s attorney promised to heed.

Bongolan, who continued her testimony from the previous day, recounted an alleged incident from 2016 in which she claimed Combs dangled her from a balcony for several seconds before throwing her onto patio furniture. Combs’s legal team questioned Bongolan’s credibility, pointing to inconsistencies in her testimony and previous accounts and highlighting that Combs was reportedly performing on the East Coast during much of September 2016. Despite the defense's assertions, Bongolan maintained that while she couldn't recall the exact date, she vividly remembered the terrifying incident.

Another accuser, testifying under the pseudonym “Jane,” is expected to take the stand. Jane, a single mother who dated Combs beginning in 2020, will likely echo claims made by Ventura, who described being subjected to years of abuse and coercion, including participation in drug-fueled sessions dubbed "freak-offs," allegedly organized by Combs.

Now in its fourth week, the trial has seen emotional accounts from over 16 witnesses, including singer Dawn Richard, Ventura’s mother, and rapper Scott Mescudi, known as Kid Cudi. Combs, who was arrested in September 2024, has pleaded not guilty to all charges, including sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, and transportation to engage in prostitution. Prosecutors contend that Combs ran a criminal enterprise since at least 2004, committing various crimes with the assistance of his associates.

While Combs's lawyers concede his history of domestic violence, they argue that the alleged victims participated in “freak-offs” consensually and reject claims of sex trafficking and operating a criminal enterprise. The trial has been marked by graphic testimony and is expected to continue into early July as the defense prepares to present its witnesses following the conclusion of the prosecution’s case next week. If convicted on all counts, Combs could face life in prison.