Judge Arun Subramanian issued a stern warning in court Tuesday about violations of sealing orders in Sean "Diddy" Combs' federal trial, as juror controversies continued to disrupt proceedings. The judge referenced information about Friday's private hearing that had been improperly leaked to the media.
According to Fox News, Judge Subramanian warned both prosecution and defense teams that violating the court's sealing order could result in contempt charges "at the most extreme level." He reminded the parties that it was the defense that had initially requested the gag order.
The judge directly addressed lead counsel, Assistant U.S. Attorney Maurene Comey, and defense attorney Marc Agnifilo, telling them they were personally responsible for their teams' conduct. "The buck stops with you," he declared, emphasizing this would be his only warning on the matter.
On Monday, Juror No. 6 was removed from the case after questions arose about inconsistencies in his statements regarding residency. The dismissal came despite efforts from Combs' legal team to retain the juror, citing concerns about ethnic diversity on the panel.
Judge Subramanian rejected the defense's request to keep the juror or declare a mistrial, stating that "there is nothing the juror can say at this point that can put the genie back in the bottle and repair his credibility." He further noted that the jury composition did not raise diversity concerns and that the court "cannot and should not let race factor into what it should do."
The dismissed juror was replaced by the first alternate, and the judge specified there was no evidence of prosecutorial misconduct in the matter. Meanwhile, potential issues with a second juror have emerged, with prosecutors noting they're open to further questioning.
During Tuesday's proceedings, jurors were shown videos allegedly depicting "freak offs" involving Diddy, his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, and a male escort. The evidence presentation required special arrangements, with screens shut off for the public while special agent DeLeassa Penland and jurors used headphones to view the October 2012 footage.
A technical issue briefly allowed sound from the videos to be audible in the courtroom before staff ensured unused headsets were turned off and kept away from microphones. Defense lawyer Teny Geragos played additional video clips from December 2014, continuing for approximately 30 minutes while Diddy sat at the defense table, occasionally tapping his fingers on his legs.
Penland's testimony also covered credit card records showing hotel bookings and travel arrangements for Diddy, Cassie, and male escorts. During cross-examination, the jury reviewed text messages between Diddy and Cassie discussing the "freak offs," including exchanges about a male escort named Keith from a service called Cowboys for Angels.
The evidence included a September 2014 conversation where Cassie sent Diddy a screenshot of a message from the male escort Keith asking if she was in town. When Diddy questioned why she shared this, Cassie replied, "Because I never show you..." followed by Diddy asking if she wanted to have a "freak off."
Another exchange revealed Diddy asking, "Wanna freak off for the last time?" to which Cassie responded, "I wanna freak-off for the rest of our lives." These messages provided insight into the nature of their relationship, which is central to the prosecution's case.
The trial has also been complicated by the government's letter filed Monday, addressing the defense's argument that if Juror No. 6 was removed, another juror with possible communications with a former colleague should also be excused. Prosecutors disagreed with "linking the issues" but remained open to further questioning.
Judge Subramanian's warning about contempt charges reflects the high-stakes nature of Combs' trial, which has been plagued by juror issues and intense media scrutiny. The stern admonishment underscores the court's determination to maintain control over sensitive information in this high-profile case.
The federal judge made it clear that both defense and prosecution teams would be held accountable for any further leaks of sealed information. His direct approach to addressing the lead attorneys demonstrated the seriousness with which the court views these violations.
As the trial continues with testimony about "freak offs" and financial records, the dismissal of Juror No. 6 and potential concerns about a second juror add layers of complexity to proceedings that have already captured significant public attention since Combs' arrest in September 2024 on sex trafficking and racketeering charges.
