Kanye West appeared Friday at the federal courthouse to support Combs
Ye, the controversial hip-hop artist formerly known as Kanye West, arrived at the courthouse on Friday in an apparent show of support for Combs. The scene was wild, with reporters running for the elevators or sprinting across the outdoor promenade to get a closer look.
Ye’s appearance was notable partly because so few high-profile celebrities have publicly aligned themselves with Combs since he came under federal investigation. However, Ye didn’t enter the courtroom and left the building after about 30 minutes, following a brief stop in the overflow area.
Juror on the verge of being dismissed
On Friday, U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian said there were serious questions about a juror’s candor and ability to follow directions.
Subramanian said it was unclear whether the juror lives in New York or New Jersey based on his seemingly conflicting answers during jury selection and subsequent discussions with attorneys and the court.
If the latter, he would be ineligible to serve on a jury in the Southern District of New York.
The juror, a 41-year-old Black male who works in communications at a correctional facility, sits in the front row on the far right, facing the parties. He’s attentive and takes notes. The defense said it’s very much opposed to removing this juror.
Judge Subramanian said he’ll hold off on making a final decision until today, when he will interview the juror again. If the juror is removed, he’ll be replaced by one of the alternates.
