In New York, a former Syracuse University basketball player, Brendan Paul, appeared in court to provide testimony in the ongoing sex trafficking trial involving the acclaimed music mogul, Sean โDiddyโ Combs. Paul, who previously worked as a personal assistant for Combs, spoke about the artistโs behavior while under the influence of drugs. The jury learned that Combs displayed heightened creativity during these times, according to Paulโs account.
Paul was detained at a Miami airport last year after being caught with cocaine, which he claimed belonged to Combs. The details emerged during a trial, where Paul received immunity in exchange for his testimony about his year-and-a-half tenure working for the hip-hop mogul. His arrest occurred in March 2024, coinciding with federal searches connected to the investigation.
The prosecution is concluding a six-week court case that included testimonies from a variety of witnesses. Testimonies ranged from ex-girlfriends and former employees to male sex workers and rapper Kid Cudi. The trial even saw an unexpected courthouse visit from Ye, formerly known as Kanye West.
Prosecutors aim to prove that Combs conducted a large-scale racketeering operation over two decades, characterized by the complete loyalty of his employees, who reportedly procured drugs on his behalf. In contrast, Combsโ defense team insists that he did not commit any federal offenses but conceded that instances of domestic violence were revealed during the trial. Combs, who pled not guilty following his arrest in Manhattan, remains detained without bail at a Brooklyn federal facility.
With expectations of the prosecution resting its case by Monday, the defenseโs rebuttal is projected to span between two and five days. During his testimony, Paul admitted to buying drugs for Combs on multiple occasions, spending substantial sums on substances like cocaine, ketamine, ecstasy, and marijuana.
Paul recounted an instance where he partook in drug use with Combs, who urged him to verify the quality of โtusi,โ or pink cocaine, urging his assistant to try it, which Paul did to prove his loyalty, declaring it satisfactory. He elaborated on his duties, stating that he mistakenly left cocaine in his bag while packing for a vacation with Combs, which led to his arrest. However, the charges were dismissed after Paul successfully completed a pretrial diversion program.
When interrogated by defense attorney Brian Steel, Paul voiced the panic he felt upon discovering the cocaine at the airport after assuring officers that everything in his bag was his property. Steel inquired whether Combs was violent or generally in a positive mood under drug influence, to which Paul replied that Combs became โextremely creative.โ
Steel also questioned if Paul would work for a criminal, to which he strongly denied. However, Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavic sought to uncover Paulโs deeper feelings about Combs, prompting Paul to describe their relationship as โcomplicated.โ
Brendan Paul hails from Cleveland and was once a prospect in collegiate basketball. As a Syracuse University walk-on, he made 16 game appearances, contributing minimally to the scorecard. He later transitioned to Fairmont State University in West Virginia, where he continued to play basketball for two more seasons.