Defense attorney Mark Geragos was admonished by the judge in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex-trafficking trial for referring to prosecutors as “a six-pack of white women.”
Geragos, who is not officially on Combs’ defense team but is working with its jury consultant, made the comment recently on the “2 Angry Men” podcast he co-hosts with TMZ founder Harvey Levin.
On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian told Geragos in a conversation in his chambers that he would be listening and watching him to make sure he doesn’t say anything that could interfere with a fair trial.
“I think this is ridiculous,” Subramanian said. “I think referring to the prosecution in this case as a six-pack of white women is outrageous. ... This would not be tolerated in any court from any lawyer anywhere across the nation.”
“You have one more listener for your podcast,” he added.
“As long as you subscribe, I’m all for it,” Geragos responded.
Geragos’ daughter, Teny Geragos, is on Combs’ legal team and has been a guest on the podcast.
Mark Geragos has offered his opinion on a variety of topics about the case on “2 Angry Men,” including a March 2016 hotel surveillance video that shows Combs beating and dragging his former girlfriend Casandra Ventura, who was signed to his music label as Cassie.
Prosecutors have said the video is a critical piece of evidence against Combs, 55, who is charged with sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty.
Subramanian rejected a request from the defense to withhold the video from evidence. After CNN aired the video last year, Combs apologized publicly, saying that his behavior in it was “inexcusable” and that he took full responsibility for his actions.
On his podcast, Geragos described the video as “character assassination.”
Before prospective jurors were questioned Tuesday, the second day of jury selection in federal court in Manhattan, Subramanian asked Mark Geragos whether he was advising Combs.
Geragos, who has had a number of high-profile clients, including O.J. Simpson, Michael Jackson and singer Chris Brown, said he has known Combs for years and is representing his mother in another case.
“I do talk with him with great frequency,” he said, adding that he has represented Combs in the past.
Geragos also defended his statements, telling the judge, “I think when you’ve got a Black man who’s being prosecuted and the client feels like he’s being targeted, it’s an observation.”
The prosecution asked Subramanian in a letter filed Tuesday to remind Geragos and members of his law firm not to make public statements that might hinder a fair trial.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik, a member of the six-women prosecution team, outlined those concerns about Geragos’ comments in court Tuesday, saying that the podcast has several million subscribers and his remarks could infect the jury pool.
Subramanian had said he hoped to seat a jury of 12 people and six alternates by Wednesday, but it appears it could take until the end of the week.
Many prospective jurors have said they were aware of the sex-trafficking case and had seen the surveillance video on CNN.
