A former assistant of American rapper and record executive Sean “Diddy” Combs, Brendan Paul has told a federal court on Friday that his job often went beyond regular duties as he bought drugs and prepped hotel rooms for wild sex parties nicknamed “wild king nights.”
Paul worked with the music executive from late 2022 to March 2024. He’s now a key witness in the sex trafficking case against the hip-hop mogul, with prosecutors hoping his account strengthens their racketeering conspiracy charges.
They allege that Diddy used his businesses to pressure women into drug-fueled sexual encounters with male sex workers.
Diddy has pleaded not guilty to all five criminal charges. His lawyers insist everything was consensual.
After six weeks of witness testimony, prosecutors are expected to rest their case soon. The defence is scheduled to begin presenting its side next week.
Testifying under immunity, Paul admitted he spent over $4,000 on marijuana and several hundred dollars on ketamine for Diddy during his employment.
Jurors were shown a text Paul sent to Diddy’s security team asking to be reimbursed, and another message sent on Valentine’s Day 2024, in which Diddy wrote, “You get me zans.” Paul confirmed that it was a request for Xanax.
While he said Diddy eventually sourced the Xanax himself, Paul also claimed he witnessed the mogul using cocaine and ecstasy. Still, under cross-examination, he insisted that buying drugs was just a small part of his job. When defence attorney Brian Steel asked if he was a “drug mule,” Paul replied, “Absolutely not.”
He also described prepping rooms for three or four “wild king nights,” stocking them with lube, baby oil, alcohol, and a Gucci pouch filled with drugs. After each night, Paul said he wore gloves to clean up and avoid hotel damage charges.
On March 25, 2024, Paul was arrested for cocaine possession at Miami-Opa Locka Airport while travelling to the Bahamas with Diddy and other staff members. He said the cocaine had been left in Diddy’s room and he stuffed it into his bag while cleaning, only to forget it was there. Asked why he didn’t explain that to the police, Paul said, “loyalty.” The charge was later dropped.