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(NewsNation) — Prosecutors were scheduled to enter their final stretch in the federal criminal case against Sean “Diddy” Combs on Wednesday, and the government was expected to call his former assistant and alleged “drug mule” to the stand.
Brendan Paul worked for Combs for several years and was named in civil suits against his former boss.
Diddy trial: Court adjourned due to sick juror
However, the court was adjourned on Wednesday after a juror suffered a bout of vertigo on their way to the courthouse and had to return home. Without the juror, the trial could not proceed.
The court will not be in session Thursday in observance of the Juneteenth holiday. The trial will resume Friday.
Paul has been referred to in previous suits as Combs’ “mule” and 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.
Paul briefly appeared in court Tuesday to invoke his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination. He was given an immunity order, which will insulate him from prosecution as long as he is truthful on the stand.
Paul is also a former Syracuse University basketball player.
Court ended Tuesday with the testimony of a federal agent who spoke to evidence, including hotel receipts and text messages detailing “Freak Offs” allegedly conducted by Combs. U.S. Attorney’s Office Special Agent DeLeassa Penland constructed a timeline of some of the sexual events allegedly orchestrated by Combs.
The government is nearing the end of its six-week case against Combs. Assistant U.S. Attorney Maurene Comey told Judge Arun Subramanian that the prosecution would rest as early as Wednesday and no later than Friday morning.
The rapper’s defense team said their case would take between two and five trial days, a much lower estimate than the multiweek presentation they previously anticipated.
Their timeline makes it almost certain Combs will not take the stand, given the length of the testimonies of his two ex-partners. Casandra “Cassie” Ventura and another accuser under the pseudonym “Jane” took at least two weeks to testify.
Subramanian scolded lawyers on both the defense and prosecution Tuesday for a leak to an unidentified media outlet regarding a juror.
He informed the counselors that future leaks could have potentially serious consequences, such as seized phones, testimony under oath and contempt charges.