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.
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NBC News
6 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
7 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.
The Herald Scotland
a day ago
- The Herald Scotland
Diddy trial updates: Brendan Paul, alleged 'drug mule,' to testify
Combs' former assistant Brendan Paul is set to testify against his ex-boss as the sweeping federal case resumes in Manhattan court on June 18. The 26-year-old former Syracuse University basketball player previously faced felony charges for drug possession when he was arrested on the same day as the raids of Combs' homes, but the case was later closed. Paul's scheduled testimony comes after prosecutors probed Combs' alleged sex-trafficking enterprise with the help of unearthed personal messages, videos and other evidence. Jurors were shown roughly 20 minutes of what appeared to be video footage created between 2012 and 2014 of Combs' "freak offs," a series of elaborate sexual performances he's been accused of orchestrating. U.S. attorneys plan on calling two to three more witnesses, including Paul, before resting their case on June 20. The trial will have a brief recess on June 19 in observance of the Juneteenth holiday. Discover WITNESS: Access our exclusive collection of true crime stories, podcasts, videos and more Combs, 55, was arrested in September and charged with sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty. In February 2024, music producer and Combs' collaborator Rodney "Lil Rod" Jones Jr. mentioned Paul in his civil lawsuit against Combs that alleged sexual assault and harassment. A month later, on the afternoon of March 25, 2024 -- the same day Combs' homes were raided in Miami and Los Angeles -- Paul was arrested by local police at the Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport. Per an arrest affidavit obtained by USA TODAY at the time, Florida prosecutors leveled two felony charges of possession of a controlled substance against him, alleging he'd packed cocaine and marijuana-laced candy in his luggage. "Brendan Paul: Works as Mr. Combs' Mule," Jones' lawsuit said, adding two photos of Paul and Combs together for reference. Jones claimed Paul allegedly "procured, transported and distributed" drugs including ecstasy, cocaine, GHB, ketamine, marijuana and mushrooms. Jones also said Paul would acquire and distribute guns for Combs and "negotiate the fees the sex workers received and would ensure that the workers are paid" on Combs' behalf. On Dec. 17, 2024, prosecutors declined to proceed with the one outstanding charge of cocaine possession, and the case was closed. Paul had "completed a pre-trial diversion course sometimes offered for first-time offenders," his attorney told USA TODAY at the time. The videos were shown in three to four-minute increments on June 17. Jurors were all wearing earphones, and the monitors that had been used during testimony were cut off to the courtroom gallery. At one point, the gallery could hear the faint sound of heavy breathing, and the judge reminded jurors to make sure that their headphones were fully on because the microphone feed appeared to be picking up the video. Throughout the roughly 20 minutes of footage, DeLeassa Penland, a special agent for the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, looked uncomfortable on the stand and at one point appeared to close her eyes and wince. Phone and text records unveiled June 17 showed Combs pleaded with former girlfriend Casandra "Cassie" Ventura Fine to return to the Los Angeles-area hotel where surveillance footage captured him attacking her in a hallway. "I went and checked everything and spoke to security. Jules left so you're good and as long as you don't disturb the other guests, they'll leave you be," Ventura Fine texted him, referring to a sex worker they hired for an alleged "freak off." "I am about to be arrested," Combs texted Ventura Fine after she left the hotel, saying police were at the building. Records showed he called her five times in 22 minutes, but there's no evidence law enforcement was involved in the incident. Penland on June 17 provided more detail about the roles that Combs' then-chief of staff Kristina "KK" Khorram and bodyguard Damion "D-Roc" Butler played in the much-discussed 2016 incident where Combs physically assaulted Ventura Fine at a now-closed luxury hotel in Los Angeles. The evidence showed Khorram and Butler were directly involved in responding to the incident, and Khorram spoke to the hotel security in an effort to obtain video footage of the assault. For example, Khorram texted Combs' former assistant Elie Maroun, "I'm going to ask just to cover damages" after the rapper checked out of the hotel room. Butler also called Ventura Fine several times after she left the hotel. The next day, he texted Combs when Ventura Fine was eating breakfast, saying, "Her face don't look bad. She good." Combs is facing federal sex-crimes and trafficking charges in a sprawling case that has eroded his status as a power player and kingmaker in the entertainment industry. He was arrested in September 2024 and later charged with racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. The rapper has pleaded not guilty to the five counts against him. Diddy on trial newsletter: Step inside the courtroom as music mogul faces sex-crimes charges. Racketeering is the participation in an illegal scheme under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Statute, or RICO, as a way for the U.S. government to prosecute organizations that contribute to criminal activity. Using RICO law, which is typically aimed at targeting multi-person criminal organizations, prosecutors allege that Combs coerced victims, some of whom they say were sex workers, through intimidation and narcotics to participate in "freak offs" -- sometimes dayslong sex performances that federal prosecutors allege they have video of. The trial will not be televised, as cameras are typically not allowed in federal criminal trial proceedings. USA TODAY will be reporting live from the courtroom. Sign up for our newsletter for more updates. Contributing: USA TODAY staff If you are a survivor of sexual assault, RAINN offers support through the National Sexual Assault Hotline at (4673) and and en Espanol If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or text "START" to 88788.
