By Jonathan Stempel
NEW YORK (Reuters) -Ye made a surprise appearance at Sean “Diddy” Combs’ criminal trial on Friday, expressing support for his fellow rapper as he defends against sex trafficking charges.
Dressed all in white, Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, arrived at the Manhattan federal courthouse in a Maybach, and entered through a public entrance.
Ye nodded when asked by a reporter whether he was there to support Combs. He left the courthouse about 35 minutes later.
Combs, 55, has pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy charges, and if convicted could face life in prison. He has been held in a Brooklyn jail since his September arrest.
Ye has also faced controversy for antisemitic and pro-Nazi remarks, prompting businesses such as Adidas to sever ties.
He appeared shortly after a Homeland Security special agent completed testimony about firearms and other items that law enforcement found in a March 2024 raid of Combs’ Los Angeles home.
Jonathan Perez, a former personal assistant to Combs, testified after the agent.
During a trial break, outside the jury’s presence, prosecutor Maurene Comey renewed her complaint about Combs’ “nodding emphatically” at times about testimony he agreed with, on concern his gestures might influence jurors.
Combs allegedly made similar gestures during testimony last week.
Brian Steel, one of Combs’ lawyers, denied that his client’s in-court conduct was improper.
U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian, who oversees the trial, said he would try to watch for inappropriate gestures, but that it was normal to react to testimony and “impossible to police” everyone.
Prosecutors are expected to continue their case next week, after which Combs’ legal team can begin his defense.
(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Bill Berkrot)
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