Diddy Trial: Ex-Assistant Details Drug Buys & Sex Parties

Inside the Sean Combs Trial: Former Assistant’s Testimony on Drugs and ‘Wild King Nights’

The high-profile sex trafficking and racketeering trial of music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs continued in a New York federal courtroom, with significant testimony delivered by Brendan Paul, Combs’ former personal assistant. Paul, who worked for the Bad Boy Records founder from late 2022 until his arrest in March 2024, took the stand as a key prosecution witness, offering jurors an insider’s view into the alleged operations behind Combs’ empire.

Described in multiple civil lawsuits as Combs’ drug “mule,” Paul explicitly denied this label under cross-examination, even laughing at the term. However, his testimony painted a vivid picture of a demanding job heavily involved with procuring narcotics and facilitating elaborate sexual encounters.

Procuring Drugs and Navigating Loyalty

Paul testified to routinely purchasing significant quantities of drugs for Combs, stating he bought marijuana every two months for around $4,200 (16 ounces total) and hard drugs like cocaine, Tusi, ecstasy, and ketamine less than 10 times, at costs ranging from $300 to $500 per instance or sometimes picked up free packages. He named specific dealers, including Guido, One Stop, Baby Girl, and Ovi. Messages shown to the jury even included one where Paul referenced needing Xanax for Combs’ security team. Paul believed these drugs were primarily for Combs’ personal use and testified he would deliver them directly or store them in a black “Gucci pouch,” which other former assistants corroborated traveled everywhere with Combs.

In a striking moment, Paul recounted how Combs once had him try Tusi – a pink powder often mixed with ecstasy and ketamine – ostensibly to “prove loyalty.” He felt a “little euphoric” but kept working when asked if it was “good.”

Paul’s tenure with Combs ended abruptly on March 25, 2024, when he was arrested at Miami-Opa Locka Airport while traveling with Combs. The arrest coincided with federal raids on Combs’ homes in Los Angeles and Miami. A small amount of cocaine was found in Paul’s luggage. Paul testified the cocaine belonged to Combs, explaining he had accidentally packed it that morning while cleaning Combs’ room and forgot about it. When questioned why he didn’t tell authorities the drugs weren’t his at the time, Paul stated it was out of “loyalty.” Paul was the only person arrested during the raids; his charges were later dropped after he completed a pre-trial drug diversion program, as the amount found was not deemed “trafficking” level.

“Wild King Nights” and Hotel Disarray

Beyond drug procurement, Paul detailed his involvement in setting up and cleaning up after what were referred to as “Wild King Nights,” also known as “freak-offs.” He understood these events involved “partying, alcohol, sex, drugs” and occurred approximately once a month. While Combs’ chief of staff reportedly preferred Paul not be involved, he helped with setup and cleanup on a few occasions.

Preparation for these nights involved packing items listed in a shared Notes document, including:

Candles and incense
Condoms
Soup (purpose unspecified)
Astroglide and baby oil
Liquor
The Gucci pouch with drugs

Up to $5,000 in cash (often used to pay male escorts)

Paul testified these encounters initially took place in hotels but shifted after Cassie Ventura sued Combs in 2023. Rooms were often left in “disarray,” requiring Paul to clean up, piling sheets/towels (some with stains), throwing out bottles, and wearing rubber gloves for sanitary reasons. He even photographed one messy room to warn a travel manager about potential damage charges. Hotel damage incidents linked to Combs were also presented, with bills for thousands of dollars citing issues like oil-soaked linens. Paul described these nights as an “escape” for Combs during his personal time.

Paul only knew of one accuser, identified as “Jane” (Victim-2), participating in the “freak-offs” during his time. Jane herself mentioned Paul in her testimony, recalling him shaking his head and telling her she didn’t deserve to be called a “bitch” by Combs before a “hotel night.” While the defense questioned Paul, suggesting Jane never appeared hesitant, his testimony regarding her demeanor was noted.

The Demanding World of a Mogul’s Assistant

Paul’s testimony also shed light on the relentless demands of working for Combs. He stated he typically worked 80 to 100 hours per week, sometimes staying up for nearly three straight days while Combs worked on music, using prescription Adderall and rare cocaine to cope. His starting salary was $75,000, later increased to $100,000. He recalled Combs insisting staff “move like Seal Team Six” and that he “did not take no for an answer.” Paul was once allegedly fired by Combs for forgetting a Lululemon fanny pack, only to be told by another staff member to lay low until it blew over. A schedule shown to the jury revealed Combs’ life largely revolved around the women in his orbit, with work sprinkled in between. Paul described his primary job simply as making sure Combs was happy.

Damning Text Messages Revealed

Adding to the prosecution’s case, text messages exchanged between Combs and his former girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, were entered into evidence. These exchanges, from 2017 and 2018, showed Ventura accusing Combs of physical abuse, including being dragged by her hair and hit in the head, and expressing fear of his rage and discomfort with the “freak-offs.” She told him, “That’s not love. That’s possession.”

Combs’ responses were dismissive and accusatory. In one exchange, he called Ventura ungrateful and stated, “Any other woman in the world would have been so happy, but not you. You’re wack for not keeping it real. I’m not gonna go back and forth when I and everyone knows you was acting like a bitch.” In another, after Ventura pushed back, he questioned her behavior and asked if she knew female escorts.

Trial Context

Brendan Paul is among the final witnesses for the prosecution, which is expected to rest its case shortly. Combs, 55, faces five felony charges, including sex trafficking, transportation to engage in prostitution, and racketeering conspiracy (which includes allegations of narcotics distribution). He has pleaded not guilty to all charges and maintains all sexual activity was consensual. If convicted, he faces a potential life sentence. The trial unfolds against the backdrop of over 50 civil lawsuits filed against Combs, though his legal team remains confident in his acquittal. Testimony from former assistants like Paul is central to the prosecution’s effort to establish a pattern of alleged criminal activity.