(NewsNation) — Sean “Diddy” Combs’ former assistant, who was known as his alleged drug mule, denied pushing large amounts of drugs for the music mogul, saying instead that procuring illegal substances was a small part of his job.
Brendan Paul took the stand under immunity Friday and told jurors he was “absolutely not” a drug mule for Combs.
Paul told jurors on cross-examination that a mule “traffics kilos and kilos of drugs.”
A former Syracuse University basketball player, Paul worked for Combs from late 2022 to March 25, 2024, and during that time says he bought drugs for his ex-boss between five and 10 times.
He said he spent up to $500 for drugs, including cocaine, ketamine, ecstasy and marijuana.
The former assistant was arrested in March 2024 at a Miami airport with cocaine he says belonged to Combs. It was the same day federal agents conducted multiple searches related to the Combs investigation.
Paul said that prior to his arrest, he had forgotten about the cocaine after collecting it while “sweeping” Combs’ room that morning and had accidentally left it in a bag he carried as he prepared to go on vacation with Combs.
He told jurors he did not tell police the cocaine found on him belonged to Combs out of loyalty.
The charges against Paul were dismissed after he completed a pretrial diversion program.
Paul’s attorney, Brian Bieber, said his client’s “testimony was crystal clear” that he was “not a drug mule” after his testimony.
Paul has been named in civil suits against Combs and was referred to as Combs’ “mule” in one filing. He was accused of procuring, transporting and distributing ecstasy, cocaine, ketamine, marijuana and mushrooms by packing the substances in his carry-on luggage and going through TSA.
The prosecution will enter the final lap Friday in their seven-week case against Combs. The government said it will rest by the end of the day Monday. Defense attorneys say they will wrap their case by Tuesday or Wednesday.
Combs has pleaded not guilty to one count of racketeering conspiracy, two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution and two counts of sex trafficking.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.