Diddy's former assistant Brendan Paul takes the stand

Summary

Diddy On Trial: Episode Summary – "Diddy's Former Assistant Brendan Paul Takes the Stand"

Release Date: June 20, 2025
Host: Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty
Guest: Isabela Gomez Sarmiento, NPR's Music Reporter

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1. Introduction

In this pivotal episode of Diddy On Trial, host Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty delves deep into the courtroom proceedings surrounding Sean 'Diddy' Combs as he faces federal charges, including sex trafficking, transportation for prostitution, and racketeering with conspiracy. The focus of this episode is on the testimony of Brendan Paul, Diddy's former assistant, whose statements could significantly impact the prosecution's case.

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2. Background of the Trial

Sean 'Diddy' Combs stands accused of severe federal charges, all of which he vehemently denies. The trial, held in the Southern District of New York Court in Lower Manhattan, has been marked by high tension and public interest. Prior to this episode, the court experienced delays due to the Juneteenth holiday and issues with juror selection.

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3. Brendan Paul's Testimony

a. Background and Role

Brendan Paul, a former Syracuse University basketball player, shifted his career trajectory during the pandemic, transitioning into the music and entertainment industry. He served as Diddy's assistant from 2020 until his arrest in 2024 for cocaine possession while attempting to board a rented private jet with Combs.

b. Key Testimony Points

• Drug Involvement: Brendan testified about his role in procuring and handling drugs for Combs. He admitted to buying or picking up drugs, setting up, and cleaning hotel rooms—activities that align with the prosecution's narrative of organized illegal operations.

  "I set up and cleaned the hotel rooms... Loyalty was key, and I still respect Combs." (00:01)

• Work Ethic and Schedule: He emphasized the demanding nature of his job, working 80 to 100 hours a week, four to six days a week, to prove himself to Combs and his team.

  "I was willing to do it because I wanted to prove myself to Combs." (02:25)

• Personal Feelings: Brendan described his current feelings toward Combs as "complicated."

  "It's complicated." (06:42)

• Drug Possession Incident: During a private jet trip to the Bahamas, Brendan was arrested for possessing illegal substances. He claimed the drugs belonged to Combs and were inadvertently packed without his knowledge.

  "I didn't want to snitch on anybody." (04:36)

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4. Cross-Examination of Brendan Paul

Defense attorney Brian Steele focused on undermining Brendan's credibility and reframing his actions:

• "Drug Mule" Accusation: Steele directly asked Brendan if he was Diddy's drug mule, to which Brendan responded negatively, defining a mule as someone trafficking large quantities of drugs across borders—something he denied doing.

  "No, I wouldn't consider myself a drug mule." (04:59)

• Work Environment: Steele highlighted the grueling work schedules as a testament to the demanding nature of Diddy's operations, suggesting that Brendan's actions were part of a larger, organized system.

  "Everyone worked these long hours; it wasn't targeted to some people." (03:05)

• Creative Influence of Drugs: Steele probed into Combs' drug use, suggesting it fueled his creativity during the recording of his 2023 album. Brendan cautiously agreed, implying a positive impact on Combs' work.

  "There was an explosion of creative energy." (05:58)

• Hotel Nights and Consent: Steele questioned whether any non-consensual activities occurred during "hotel nights." Brendan affirmed that a romantic partner, referred to as "Jane," never seemed hesitant or regretful about the encounters.

  "Jane never seemed hesitant or reluctant." (07:35)

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5. Government's Redirect

Following cross-examination, the prosecution reinforced key points:

• Role in Illegal Activities: They emphasized that Brendan was compensated for his duties, framing his involvement as part of his job responsibilities rather than personal choice.

  "He was getting paid to do these things in his capacities as a personal assistant." (05:40)

• Awareness of Abuse: Despite Brendan's limited insight into the specifics, the prosecution highlighted text messages suggesting Cassie, an associate, experienced abuse.

  "He's being really mean. He's calling me names... No one deserves to get dragged by their hair." (09:46)

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6. Special Agent Joseph Circiello’s Testimony

As the final witness for the prosecution, Special Agent Joseph Circiello provided a factual analysis of the evidence:

• Evidence Verification: Agent Circiello reviewed text messages, flight records, bank statements, and financial records linking Combs, "Jane," and escort services like "Cowboys for Angels" to the alleged activities.

  "We've seen hotel charges for damage to furniture and linens from baby oil." (09:34)

• Text Message Evidence: He presented texts indicating Cassie’s reluctance and fear of abuse, reinforcing the prosecution's claims of non-consensual activities.

  "Cassie tells KK, 'No one deserves to get dragged by their hair.'" (09:46)

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7. Insights and Analysis

Isabela Gomez Sarmiento provided expert analysis throughout the episode, highlighting the consistency in testimonies from Combs' former assistants and the strategic framing by both the prosecution and defense. She noted that the defense aimed to portray the work environment as legitimate, while the prosecution sought to build a narrative of systematic abuse and illegal activities.

"Brendan Paul was nailing what we've heard from all of these people who worked for Combs over the years..." (06:55)

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8. Conclusion

The episode concluded with the anticipation that the defense might rest their case by Thursday, potentially leading to a verdict shortly thereafter. The detailed testimonies and strategic courtroom maneuvers underscore the high stakes of Diddy's trial, keeping listeners informed on every critical development.

Anoushka emphasized the rapid progression of the trial and thanked Isabela for her insightful breakdown, setting the stage for the next episode.

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Notable Quotes

• Anoushka Mutanda-Dougherty:

  "He said that he didn't say that the drugs didn't belong to him out of loyalty." (04:36)

• Isabela Gomez Sarmiento:

  "Brenden Paul said it's complicated." (06:42)

• Brendan Paul:

  "I was willing to do it because I wanted to prove myself to Combs." (02:25)

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This episode of Diddy On Trial provides a comprehensive look into Brendan Paul's testimony, revealing critical insights into the inner workings of Diddy's operations and the mounting evidence against him. Through meticulous analysis and expert commentary, listeners gain a nuanced understanding of the legal strategies and personal dynamics at play in this high-profile case.

Transcript

[Anoushka Mutandadawati]

BBC Sounds Music Radio podcasts. Hello, and welcome back to Diddy on trial from BBC sounds with me, Anoushka Mutandadawati. It's 1:30. We had a short day here at the Southern District of New York Court in Lower Manhattan. After two days of no court because of the Juneteenth holiday and a poorly juror, today we got to hear from the prosecution's last two witnesses. And the court was packed as lots of people had turned up to hear from Brendan Paul, Diddy's former assistant who was arrested for cocaine possession. Now, a reminder, Diddy is charged with sex trafficking, transportation for prostitution, and racketeering with conspiracy. These are charges he has consistently denied. Now, before I get into it, a warning. This episode contains descriptions of sex acts, violence and drug use. I'm here with Isabela Gomez Sarmiento, National Public Radio's music reporter. Isabella, we thought they were potentially going to be able to rest the prosecution. That does not look likely at all. They're saying hopefully by the end of Monday. But to kick off the day, we had Brendan Paul, Diddy's former assistant on the stand. How did that go?

[Isabela Gomez Sarmiento]

Yeah, so Brendan Paul was a basketball player at Syracuse University. And then it sort of sounds like his basketball career was thwarted during the pandemic and he pivoted to music and entertainment. So he worked for Combs from sometime around 2020 up until 2024 when he was arrested for possession of drugs while he was attempting to travel on a private jet with Combs. A lot of his testimony echoed what we've already heard from other assistants. He talks about buying or picking up drugs for Combs. He talked about setting up and cleaning up the hotel rooms. And he talked a lot about loyalty and how he still seems to have a lot of respect for Combs. He said his feelings towards him now are complicated.

[Anoushka Mutandadawati]

He spoke about, again, the culture of the assistants.

[Isabela Gomez Sarmiento]

Yeah, he did. He talked about how organized it was. Some of the things that they went over were the notes app schedules that they would create for Combs. He talked about how there was a shared notes app list of things that they should bring to the hotel nights. So, like baby oil, lubricant, liquor, and just how organized the entire system was running under the supervision of Christina Coram.

[Anoushka Mutandadawati]

But Brendan also testified that he knew that this job was going to be extremely intense when he took it.

[Isabela Gomez Sarmiento]

He did. Yeah. And, you know, he talked a lot about his work ethic and how he was raised to work really hard, how that had applied to his athletic career, his academic career, and how he really channeled that into this job. He talked about working 80 to 100 hours a week, four to six days a week. So it was a very grueling schedule. But he didn't seem to necessarily be complaining about that. It seemed like, you know, he was saying that it was really hard work, but that he was willing to do it because he wanted to prove himself to Combs and the people around him.

[Anoushka Mutandadawati]

And we've heard a lot of what Brendan was saying before from other assistants. And in much the same way, the cross examination echoed what we've seen before as well, with Brian Steele getting up there, one of Diddy's defendants, and saying, well, didn't you learn a lot? Wasn't this a great learning experience for you?

[Isabela Gomez Sarmiento]

Yeah. Saying this was an amazing learning opportunity for Brendan Paul, that this was an opportunity for Brendan Paul to apply that work ethic, and emphasizing that he worked these long hours because he wanted to, and emphasizing that everyone worked these long hours, that it wasn't targeted to some people. So, for example, he asked him about when Combs was recording his 2023 album. And he was saying, well, Combs was working very long hours, too. It wasn't just the assistants. It was everyone around him. And you had this big opportunity to leave a mark on this album. So really talking up these very grueling schedules and these very extensive working days as being an exhilarating, creative thing for everyone in the sphere of Sean Combs during this time.

[Anoushka Mutandadawati]

And obviously, drugs was a key theme.

[Isabela Gomez Sarmiento]

Right. So he said that he boarded a private jet. It was not Combs private jet. It was a rented private jet with Combs and Christina Coram. There was a photo of them that the prosecution pulled up as evidence. And they were supposed to travel to the Bahamas for a family vacation. Brendan was going in the capacity of his job, as was Christina. They were working on this trip. And then, yeah, he was arrested for carrying possession of illegal substances. Brendan Paul testified that those substances were not his, that they belonged to Combs, but that he was not instructed by Combs to bring them. He said that he had just packed them accidentally and didn't realize they were in his possession, and that his heart sank when law enforcement pulled them out, but that he didn't say that the drugs didn't belong to him out of loyalty. He said that he didn't want to snitch on anybody. So essentially, he took ownership of the drugs and of those charges in that moment, instead of saying that they belonged to Sean Combs or anybody else, that they were traveling With.

[Anoushka Mutandadawati]

And that case has been dismissed, hasn't it?

[Isabela Gomez Sarmiento]

Yeah, it has. And he was granted immunity to testify as well.

[Anoushka Mutandadawati]

I always think it's fascinating to see the defense attorneys dispelling narratives in the press when they get into cross examination. So anybody who's been following along knows that Brendan Pool's been referred to as Diddy's drug mule. And Brian Steele got up there and directly asked him, you weren't his drug mule, were you?

[Isabela Gomez Sarmiento]

That's right. Steele did ask him that directly. And Brendan Paul said no. Brendan Paul said he would consider a drug mule to be someone who's trafficking kilos and kilos of drugs across state lines and across international borders. And that that's not what he was doing at. We saw Steele trying to really frame the picking up and buying of drugs and the setting up and cleaning of hotel rooms as Combs private time, Combs personal time. This was all corresponding to his private and personal activities. And then during redirect, the government emphasized that Brendan Paul was getting paid to do these things in his job and in his capacities as a personal assistant. So even though it could have been personal or private to Combs, that there were employees who were being paid to do these things for him.

[Anoushka Mutandadawati]

And we see them pick up on another narrative around drugs. Now, we've been told multiple times throughout this trial by both the defense and the prosecution that Diddy is a recreational drug user. Brian still got up there and asked some questions about what Diddy's mood is like when he was on drugs. When Brendan observed him on drugs, saying, is he more creative?

[Isabela Gomez Sarmiento]

Right. So Steele asked a couple of questions about this, and he framed it well. You know, when Combs was on drugs, there was an explosion of creative energy. Right. And it was really helpful while he was recording music and working on this big album. And he was just really happy and, like, nice to everyone. Right. Which Brendan Paul kind of agreed to. But again, it was. The implication was planted by Steele that the drugs were to fuel Combs creative juices in the making of the album and that he acted positively when he was high and that he wasn't hurting or harming anyone around him. Brendan didn't give a very deliberate answer. He just agreed with the way that Steele was characterizing the drug use.

[Anoushka Mutandadawati]

Brendan was not forthcoming with critiques of Diddy, but in the redirect, they did ask him, again, you know, you were arrested doing this job. How do you feel about him?

[Isabela Gomez Sarmiento]

Brennan Paul said, I was arrested. And then they asked him how he feels about Combs now. And he Said, quote, it's complicated.

[Anoushka Mutandadawati]

Brendan Paul, really, from the prosecution's perspective, there is building a predicate offense of drug trafficking.

[Isabela Gomez Sarmiento]

Yeah, you know, I think he is nailing what we've heard from all of these people who worked for Combs over the years, which seems to imply that Combs assistants were for a very long period of time involved in these illegal activities, which included buying drugs for him, transporting drugs for him, and setting up and cleaning up the hotel rooms which were the sites of the alleged sex trafficking.

[Anoushka Mutandadawati]

Bryan still tried to pick up on that, saying, well, yeah, he was a part of it. And because he did have intimate knowledge of what was going on, he can tell you that he would speak to Jane, one of Diddy's former romantic partners, who's using a pseudonym to protect her identity. But say, Brendan, you spoke to her before and after these, quote, Wild King nights, you've heard them called freak offs, hotel nights. Did she ever seem reluctant? Did she ever seem regretful?

[Isabela Gomez Sarmiento]

That's right. Brendan Paul said that absolutely not. Jane never seemed hesitant or reluctant when he spoke to her before one of these hotel nights, and that he spoke to her almost every single time after, and that she did not seem to him to be upset or to be sorry about what had happened. Brian Steele tried to ask, if you had thought that something non consensual was happening in those hotel rooms, you wouldn't have worked for Combs, would you? And the government objected, and the judge sustained that objection. And during redirect, the government made a big point of reaffirming that although Brendan Paul assumed there was like, drugs and sex and partying happening in the hotel rooms, that he did not actually know the specifics of what was going on in there and cannot speak to what was happening behind closed doors.

[Anoushka Mutandadawati]

And all in all, it was absolutely rapid. He was on the stand for the prosecution, testifying for about an hour and then straight into cross examination. Redirect wasn't that long. And then we have another summary witness, the final witness for the prosecution taking the stand. And this is a Homeland Security Investigations agent. What are they working through at the moment with him on the stand?

[Isabela Gomez Sarmiento]

That's right. So right now on the stand is Special Agent Joseph Circiello. He specializes in a terrorism task force. And he wasn't involved with the trial at all until about two and a half weeks ago. And he was asked to do something very similar as the other special agent that we heard from before Brendan Paul, which was to look through charts that the government put together to verify that all of the evidence that the government is citing in those charts is correct. And to just give a fact check of phone records, flight records, bank statements, financial records, all of these things that have meant to put Combs, Jane and some of these escorts in the same place at the same time. So so far he's been going through text messages of Combs and Jane arranging travel for the escorts. We've seen some cash out payments from Combs to the escorts or Cowboys for Angels, which we've heard is an escort service. And just going through these dates where these supposed to hotel nights happen. We've seen hotel charges for damage to furniture and linens from baby oil. So in fact, checking some of the claims that we've heard in testimony so.

[Anoushka Mutandadawati]

Far before that, they entered a few texts into evidence. And some of those spoke quite clearly to what the prosecution allege is Cassie in particular being forced to participate in these freak offs. And she says, well, you know, I don't want to be abused.

[Isabela Gomez Sarmiento]

That's right. She says, I'm not down with abuse. There are other text messages of her saying that if he doesn't get his way, he drags her by the hair. There are text messages where she says, I didn't say no to you in New York because I knew it would be a problem. You know, I think in reference to a freak off is what we're assuming. And there are also text messages. We had seen these texts before, but they resurfaced. Text messages of Cassie telling kk, and I'm paraphrasing here, saying, hey, listen, I know you don't want to get involved, but he's being really mean. He's calling me names, he's saying all these things. And then Cassie tells kk, no one deserves to get dragged by their hair. So the government trying to reestablish that at least some of the assistants were aware of the violence and the abuse and they continue to facilitate these encounters between Cassave Ventura and Sean Combs.

[Anoushka Mutandadawati]

Isabella, they're saying the defense could rest by Thursday next week and we could have a verdict before the end of the week or early the week after that. Thank you so much for breaking this down. And I'll see you back here on Monday.

[Isabela Gomez Sarmiento]

I'll see you on Monday. Thank you for having me.

[Anoushka Mutandadawati]

That was isabella Gomez Lamiento, NPR's music reporter. And that's it for this episode of Diddy on Trial from BBC Sounds. With me, Anoushka Tandadawati. Don't forget to subscribe and turn on your push notifications so you never miss a thing. And if you're in the UK and you need support about any of the issues we've talked about today, please go to BBC.co.uk actionline.

[Stephen Stockwell]

She's accused of murdering her relatives by serving death cap mushrooms inside a beef Wellington. Erin Patterson's trial has finally started and all the details about that infamous lunch are now coming out.

[Anoushka Mutandadawati]

It's a tragedy what happened. I love them.

[Stephen Stockwell]

I'm Stephen Stockwell and I'm here in the small Victorian town of Morwell, where the triple murder trial is underway every day. On the Mushroom Case Daily Podcast, we'll tell you about all of the evidence presented in the courtroom. To make sure you don't miss an episode, hit follow on the Mushroom Case Daily Podcast. Wherever you get your podcasts.