A former assistant and ex-college basketball player testified today that Sean “Diddy” Combs became “extremely creative” with drug use, fueling allegations of a sprawling criminal enterprise during Combs’ racketeering and sex-trafficking trial.
At a Glance
- Brendan Paul, a 26-year-old ex-Syracuse basketball player, testified with immunity
- He admitted buying cocaine, ecstasy, ketamine, marijuana, and pink cocaine for Combs
- Paul said Combs got “extremely creative” while on drugs
- Prosecutors allege Combs led a two-decade criminal enterprise
- Defense says Paul’s testimony lacks criminal proof and hints at loyalty confusion
Assistant by Day, Drug Buyer by Night
Brendan Paul, who played basketball at Syracuse and later worked for Combs as a personal assistant, took the stand and acknowledged purchasing drugs—up to ten times—for the music mogul. He testified he spent as much as $500 per trip on cocaine, ketamine, ecstasy, and marijuana. The purchases weren’t casual gifts: Paul said he tried “tusi” (pink cocaine) with Combs to show his loyalty—“he got extremely creative,” he testified.
Paul was arrested in March 2024 at Miami airport after being found with cocaine he said belonged to Combs. Those charges were dropped after Paul completed a diversion program. Under defense questioning, he denied being a drug mule but admitted his role certainly went beyond typical assistant duties, as covered in Vanity Fair.
Implications for the Racketeering Case
This testimony supports prosecutors’ claims that Combs managed a criminal enterprise—buying drugs for associates, organizing parties, and enforcing loyalty. Over six weeks, the government has built a case using statements from ex-employees, rapper Kid Cudi, and others. They allege Combs coerced assistants like Paul into illegal activities, as detailed by People.
Defense attorneys argue there is no direct evidence tying Combs to criminal intent and that Paul’s mixed feelings reflect confusion, not complicity. Paul called their relationship “complicated” and insisted Combs never forced him into criminal acts.
What’s Next in the Trial
Prosecutors are expected to rest their case by Monday, with Combs’ defense to present for two to five days. With Paul as one of the final key witnesses, his testimony may tip the balance:
- Does it convincingly link Combs to orchestrated criminal wrongdoing?
- Will the jury accept Paul’s refusal to label himself a drug mule as credible?
- Can Combs’ team undermine the credibility of other witnesses, like Kid Cudi or ex-employees?
The final verdict may hinge on whether the jury believes these behind-the-scenes accounts paint Combs as a criminal boss—or merely a larger-than-life celebrity with unconventional assistants.
