Following a two-day break, Sean “Diddy” Combs’ criminal trial will continue on Friday, with the testimony of the rapper’s purported “drug mule,” as the prosecution nears the conclusion of its case.
The court was adjourned on Wednesday due to a juror experiencing vertigo, which prevented the trial from moving forward.
The following day, the court was closed in observance of the Juneteenth holiday.
On Friday, the prosecution plans to call Brendan Paul, Combs’ former assistant and alleged “drug mule,” as one of its final witnesses.
Paul, a former basketball player at Syracuse University, worked for Combs for several years and has been named in civil lawsuits against him.
He has previously been referred to as Combs’ “mule,” accused of obtaining, transporting, and distributing drugs such as ecstasy, cocaine, ketamine, marijuana, and mushrooms by concealing them in his carry-on luggage while passing through TSA.
Earlier this week, Paul made a brief court appearance to invoke his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.
He has since received an immunity order that protects him from prosecution as long as he testifies truthfully.
It remains uncertain whether the prosecution will call additional witnesses.
The prosecution is set to enter the final phase of its six-week case against Combs on Friday.
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They had indicated they would rest their case on that day, but due to the trial’s pause, they may extend into Monday.
Combs’ defense team has stated that their case will take between two to five trial days, a significantly shorter estimate than the multi-week presentation they had initially expected.
Given the length of testimonies from his two former partners, it is highly likely that Combs will not take the stand himself.
Casandra “Cassie” Ventura and another accuser, referred to as “Jane,” took at least two weeks to testify.
The trial concluded on Tuesday with testimony from a federal agent who discussed evidence, including hotel receipts and text messages related to the alleged “Freak Offs” organized by Combs.
U.S. Attorney’s Office Special Agent DeLeassa Penland presented a timeline of some of the sexual incidents allegedly orchestrated by Combs.
Jurors were also shown three video clips of the rapper’s “freak-off” sex parties, which were part of a broader argument linking Combs and his chief of staff, Kristina Khorram, to the organization of these events.
