Sean “Diddy” Combs’ former assistant Brendan Paul took the stand Friday as one of the prosecution’s last major witnesses in Combs’ ongoing trial.
Paul, a 26-year-old Syracuse basketball player from Ohio, worked for Combs for 18 months starting in late 2022. On March 24, 2024 as federal agents raided Combs’ houses in Los Angeles and Miami, Paul was at a Miami airport with Combs, where he was questioned by federal agents. The authorities released Combs but arrested Paul for possessing 0.7 grams of cocaine that he testified belonged to Combs — but he didn’t tell authorities out of “loyalty” to his boss. Paul said he didn’t realize the cocaine had been in one of his bags and his “heart dropped” when he saw it. He was released from jail the next day on a $2,500 bond, the charges were dropped and he stopped working for Combs. Paul said he hadn’t spoken to his former boss since then and hadn’t seen him until the trial began.
Paul is referenced in three civil lawsuits filed against Combs, all of which are still pending. According to Rodney Jones aka Lil Rod, who, in his lawsuit, accused Combs of coercing him into various sex acts, Paul’s job was to “acquire and distribute” guns and drugs for Combs. Paul testified that he spent $500 on drugs, including cocaine, ketamine, ecstasy and marijuana, between 5-10 times during his time as a personal assistant.
When asked about his experience learning about the music industry from Combs, but also getting having to prepare for Combs’ sex and drug-filled “Wild King Nights,” Paul said “it’s complicated.” As part of his job as an assistant, Paul would “advance” hotel rooms and prepare them for Combs and his girlfriends for “Wild King Nights.” He would buy towels, lube, liquor, sheets and toiletries for Combs’ sex parties that often took place in his Los Angeles and Miami homes or hotels approximately once a month. Paul would then be tasked with cleaning up the hotel rooms after the parties and leaving cash tips to avoid damage charges. He testified that he saw white drug residue in a hotel room once and that one time Combs called him during a “Wild King Night” and asked him to go to a sex shop to purchase a woman’s outfit, but never specified which one to buy.
Paul disputed his label as a “drug mule” for Combs and when asked if he would work for a criminal, he said “absolutely not.” He also said that Combs instructed his assistants to “move like SEAL Team Six” and that they wanted to keep their boss happy because he didn’t “take ‘no’ for an answer.’”
Combs’ trial continued on Friday after a two-day break. On Wednesday, Judge Arun Subramanian adjourned the court just after 9 a.m. after a juror called in sick with vertigo symptoms, and on Thursday the court recognized the Juneteenth holiday. Federal prosecutors said earlier in the week that they would rest their case on Friday. Now, the government plans to finish its presentation on Monday, which means the defense will get to call its own witnesses beginning Tuesday. The judge still expects the trial to end before July 4.
Combs is pleading not guilty to charges of sex trafficking, transportation to engage in prostitution and racketeering. If he’s convicted, he faces a possible life sentence in prison.
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