Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial: Former assistant Brendan Paul to testify
What to know about the trial
The fate of a juror who might have spoken improperly about the case with a former colleague was left unresolved when Judge Arun Subramanian left the bench yesterday. Another juror had been dismissed earlier yesterday after he allegedly had given conflicting answers about where he lives.
Sean 'Diddy' Combs' former assistant Brendan Paul is expected to take the witness stand today.
Combs faces five criminal counts: one count of racketeering conspiracy; two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion; and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. Combs has vociferously denied the allegations against him.
This live briefing may include graphic descriptions of sexual violence. For resources on sexual assault, call the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline.
Sign up for the 'Diddy on Trial' newsletter for key developments and analysis, and listen to the 'Dateline' nightly podcast.
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The Independent
13 hours ago
- The Independent
An ex-college basketball player testifies that Sean 'Diddy' Combs got 'extremely creative' on drugs
A former Syracuse University basketball player who worked recently for Sean 'Diddy' Combs as a personal assistant testified at the music mogul's sex trafficking trial on Friday that Combs got 'extremely creative' when he was on drugs. Brendan Paul, 26, was arrested last year at a Miami airport with cocaine he says belonged to Combs, and he testified with immunity about what it was like working for the hip-hop entrepreneur for a year and a half. Paul was arrested in March 2024 — the same day federal agents conducted multiple searches related to the Combs' investigation. Prosecutors are winding down their case after six weeks of testimony from an array of witnesses ranging from ex-girlfriends and former employees to male sex workers and the rapper Kid Cudi. Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, even made a surprise appearance at the courthouse. The prosecution seeks to convince the jury that Combs oversaw a sprawling racketeering enterprise for two decades that relied on obedience by employees willing to do anything for him, including buying drugs when necessary. Defense lawyers say Combs did not commit federal crimes, although they acknowledge that prosecutors have exposed domestic violence during the trial. After pleading not guilty following his September arrest at a Manhattan hotel, Combs has been held without bail at a federal lockup in Brooklyn. Prosecutors were expected to rest their case by Monday. A defense presentation is expected to last from two to five days. Paul said he bought drugs for Combs between five and 10 times, spending up to $500 for drugs including cocaine, ketamine, ecstasy and marijuana. He said he only did drugs with Combs once, when Combs asked him to try 'tusi,' also known as pink cocaine, to see if it was good. Paul said he did so because he 'wanted to prove my loyalty' and said he thought it was good. 'We continued on with our night,' he told Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavic. Paul said that prior to his arrest, he had forgotten about the cocaine after collecting it while 'sweeping' Combs' room that morning and had accidentally left it in a bag he carried as he prepared to go on vacation with Combs and other aides. The charges were dismissed after Paul completed a pretrial diversion program. Under questioning by defense attorney Brian Steel, Paul said his 'heart dropped' when he realized that there was cocaine in a travel bag after telling officers at the airport that everything in the bag belonged to him. Steel asked Paul if Combs was generally happy and didn't hurt anyone when he was on drugs. 'He got extremely creative,' Paul responded. At another point, Steel asked the witness: 'You would not work for a criminal, would you?' 'Absolutely not,' Paul responded. Slavic, though, elicited Paul's mixed feelings about Combs when the prosecutor asked him just before he finished his testimony: 'Sitting here today, how do you feel about Mr. Combs?' 'It's complicated,' he answered. Paul, originally from Cleveland, was a 6-foot-2 guard who walked on at Syracuse University and came off the bench in 16 games over two seasons, playing a total of 17 minutes and scored just 3 points. He later transferred to lower-tier Fairmont State University in West Virginia, where he played for two more seasons.
NBC News
19 hours ago
- NBC News
Sean 'Diddy' Combs trial live updates: Former assistant Brendan Paul to testify as prosecution wraps up case
Brendan Paul, a former Combs' personal assistant, is expected to testify today. Assistant U.S. Attorney Maurene Comey said Tuesday that the government will likely rest its case Friday, though that was before court was adjourned early Wednesday morning due to a sick juror. Combs' defense team said it needs two to five days to present its case, but that timeline isn't set in stone. Combs faces five criminal counts: one count of racketeering conspiracy; two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion; and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. Combs has vociferously denied the allegations against him. This live briefing may include graphic descriptions of sexual violence. For resources on sexual assault, call the National Sexual Assault Telephone Hotline. Sign up for the 'Diddy on Trial' newsletter for key developments and analysis, and listen to the 'Dateline' nightly podcast.
Scottish Sun
20 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Explosive new Diddy mansion pics reveal star's shelves stacked with baby oil, a vast weapons arsenal & ketamine stash
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) BOMBSHELL new images from Sean "Diddy" Combs' mansion have been revealed - with shelves stacked with baby oil, shotguns sprawled around, and his ketamine stash unveiled. The disgraced music mogul, 55, is currently on trial in New York for sex-trafficking, and faces life behind bars if convicted. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 10 Shelves of baby oil were photographed in the mansion Credit: Department of Justice 10 Agents also discovered various weaponry Credit: Department of Justice 10 Bags of ketamine were seized Credit: Department of Justice 10 Sean 'Diddy' Combs at the 2022 Billboard Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas Credit: Getty He's pleaded not guilty to charges of sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, and transportation to engage in prostitution, as prosecutors alleged his business empire was also a criminal enterprise. The abundance of explosive pics were released by federal prosecutors as the trial was stalled due to the Juneteenth holiday. The bombshell items were seized by Homeland Security officials during the March 2024 raid at Combs' mansion in the neighborhood of Holmby Hills - a playground for the rich and famous. One chilling image shows baby oil neatly displayed across three shelves in one room of the sprawling property. READ MORE ON DIDDY TRIAL SHOCK Kanye sensationally crashes Diddy trial but 'storms out mins later' Homeland Security Investigations agent Andre Lamon has testified that he found 900 bottles of lubricant Astroglide and 200 bottles of baby oil at Combs' home. Defense Attorney Marc Agnifilo said the disgraced star likes to "buy in bulk like any other American". Another image shows various weapons confiscated by agents, including deadly AR-15 style rifles and pump shotguns. Investigators also discovered bags of the drug ketamine that were photographed as evidence. Federal prosecutors have alleged that the Schedule III, or Class B substance was used in the infamous "freak-offs". Combs would put women through days-long "freak-off" sex parties while filming them, a court heard last month. Kanye shows up to Diddy's sex trafficking trial in blacked out Maybach after being spotted in NYC with wife Bianca A few weeks ago, Combs' ex-girlfriend testified about opening "Pandora's box" after she agreed to the music executive's proposal to engage in sex with strangers. The woman, who is being identified in court under the pseudonym Jane, recalled on the stand about falling "head over heels" for Combs after they first met in late 2020. She said that she did various drugs, including cocaine, ecstasy, molly, and ketamine, every time she saw Combs between February and May 2021. During the March 2024 raid, a hard drive was also seized, and the property's security system was turned off. Combs forked out almost $40 million on the 17,000 square-foot, 10-bedroom home back in September 2014. He put it on the market a decade later for $61.5 million. The property boasts outdoor features such as a swimming pool, and its lawns are neat. Inside, there is a 35-seat theater room, a wine cellar, a gym, as well as a state-of-the-art gourmet kitchen. Its other features include a basketball court, spa room, and an outdoor loggia-style facility where barbecues can be hosted, per the Zillow listing. 10 Combs' Los Angeles home lies empty more than a year after being raided by the feds Credit: The US Sun 10 900 bottles were allegedly found at the mansion Credit: Department of Justice 10 Numerous guns were found in the raid Credit: Department of Justice 10 Drawers allegedly contained women's lingerie and heels Credit: Department of Justice 10 Combs' trial is expected to last eight to 10 weeks Credit: Department of Justice There's also an underground swimming tunnel that is linked to a grotto. Meanwhile, even if Combs is found guilty, he could be pardoned by President Donald Trump. Trump surprised reporters by commenting on the court case during a news conference with Elon Musk and revealed he would consider whether or not he has been "mistreated." Asked if he would consider pardoning him, Trump said, "Nobody's asked. But I know people are thinking about it. I think some people have been very close to asking." He said he felt the former music mogul used to like him "a lot" but wasn't his biggest fan after he went into politics. Despite this, Trump said, "I would certainly look at the facts. If I think somebody was mistreated, whether they like me or don't like me, it wouldn't have any impact on me." If you or someone you know is affected by any of the issues raised in this story, call RAINN (Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network) at 800-656-HOPE (4673). Diddy locked eyes with us as he entered the courtroom - inside the trial of the decade By Israel S-Rodriguez, Senior News Reporter at The U.S. Sun The federal sex trafficking trial of Sean 'Diddy' Combs began with jury selection on May 5. Combs is standing trial at the Southern District of New York Courthouse in Lower Manhattan - an intimidating federal courthouse where the cases of Ghislaine Maxwell, Donald Trump, and Bernard Madoff, among others, were tried. Once a powerful founder of a music and business empire, Combs has been reduced to a defendant, inmate 37452-054, stripped of his mogul status, and now standing trial on five federal charges with the full wrath of the United States government against him. When I attended Day 3 of jury selection at the federal courthouse on May 7, the buzz around the start of the trial was palpable. Hours before the courthouse opened its doors, more than a dozen reporters and members of the public stood in line in hopes of securing a seat in the gallery for the high-profile trial. As you walk through the glass door entrance of the Daniel Patrick Moynihan Courthouse, you are met by bulletproof vest-clad court officers. All visitors must separate their electronic devices from their personal belongings, which are passed through a metal detector. Visitors walk through a metal detector before a court officer hands them a poker chip. The courthouse uses a poker chip system to sort the number of electronic devices visitors are in possession of. Electronic devices, such as Bluetooth-powered headphones, voice recorders, laptops, cellphones, and smart watches, are confiscated before you're allowed to enter the courthouse's main hallway. As about a half-dozen reporters and I waited in the gallery for jury selection, we witnessed how Combs entered the courtroom shackle-free. Combs entered with his hands pressed together, greeted his defense team before he examined the gallery, and locked eyes with reporters and potential jurors. The 55-year-old disgraced Bad Boy Records executive was attentive and engaged with his counsel as they grilled dozens of potential jurors. As jury selection wrapped up for the day, Combs embraced each of his female defense attorneys before he mouthed "thank you" to a handful of supporters in the gallery. I attended trial again as opening statements got underway on May 12 and the world media waited anxiously outside the federal courthouse before the sun rose in Lower Manhattan. A line stretched down the block from the federal courthouse as some members of the media and from the public camped out overnight to try to obtain a coveted seat inside the gallery. At least three overflow rooms were made available for reporters and the public, who are eager to witness the prosecutions case against the music mogul. At least half a dozen members of Combs' family arrived at the courthouse as spectators filed in single order to enter the federal building to turn over all their electronic devices. Combs' trial is being held on the 26th floor in Judge Arun Subramanian's courtroom and is expected to last for eight weeks. We'll bring it all to you on The U.S. Sun.
