Drugs and Loyalty: A Former Assistant's Revelations

A man who used to play basketball at Syracuse University recently took the stand in a courtroom. His name is Brendan Paul. He worked as a personal assistant for Sean "Diddy" Combs. Paul shared some surprising details about his time working for the famous music producer. He talked about how Combs would get "extremely creative" when he was under the influence of drugs. This was during the ongoing sex trafficking trial against Combs. Paul was arrested at a Miami airport last year. He had cocaine in his possession. He claimed the drugs belonged to Combs. Paul testified with immunity, meaning he couldn't be charged for his involvement in the case. He spoke about his year and a half working for Combs. His arrest happened on the same day federal agents conducted searches related to the Combs investigation. This was in March 2024. The trial has been going on for six weeks. Witnesses have included ex-girlfriends, former employees, male sex workers, and even the rapper Kid Cudi. Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, also made a surprise appearance at the courthouse. The prosecution is trying to prove that Combs ran a large-scale racketeering operation for two decades. They claim that employees were willing to do anything for him, including buying drugs when needed. Paul admitted to buying drugs for Combs between five and ten times. He spent up to $500 on various substances, including cocaine, ketamine, ecstasy, and marijuana. He mentioned that he only did drugs with Combs once. This was when Combs asked him to try "tusi, " also known as pink cocaine, to check its quality. Paul did this to show his loyalty. He thought the drug was good, and they continued with their night. Paul's arrest came as a shock. He had forgotten about the cocaine after collecting it from Combs' room. He accidentally left it in a bag he was carrying for a vacation with Combs and other aides. The charges were later dismissed after he completed a pretrial diversion program. During the trial, Paul's feelings about Combs were mixed. He described them as "complicated. " He also stated that he would not work for a criminal, which raised some eyebrows in the courtroom. Paul's basketball career was brief. He played for Syracuse University and later transferred to Fairmont State University in West Virginia. His time on the court was limited, and he scored only three points in his college career. His testimony provided a glimpse into the lifestyle and expectations surrounding Combs. It also highlighted the complexities of loyalty and the consequences of involvement in high-profile cases.