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Sean Combs— Case Archive
2025 Federal Trialtrial-daytrial-dayMaurene R. ComeyMary C. SlavikBrian SteelJoseph CercielloBrendan PauldirectcrossredirectDay 31 - June 20, 2025Former assistant Brendan Paul described work for Sean Combs, including drug purchases, cash, and hotel-room tasks. HSI Agent Joseph Cerciello introduced selected-record charts after court rulings on a juror application, exhibits, and completing messages.
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Day 31 - June 20, 2025

Paul Testimony, Exhibit Rulings, and Cerciello's Record Charts

Judge Arun Subramanian
5Proceedings
3Pages
2Witnesses
2,670Lines
3Sidebars
Day 31 of 39
Appearing:
Maurene R. Comey Mary C. Slavik Brian Steel Joseph Cerciello Brendan Paul

Former assistant Brendan Paul described work for Sean Combs, including drug purchases, cash, and hotel-room tasks. HSI Agent Joseph Cerciello introduced selected-record charts after court rulings on a juror application, exhibits, and completing messages.

Full day summary

The court denied a defense application concerning a juror, resolved evidentiary objections, and admitted exhibit lists. Former assistant Brendan Paul testified about tasks he performed for Sean Combs, including obtaining drugs, handling cash, and preparing and cleaning hotel rooms for events he called wild king nights. On cross-examination, Paul said he viewed those events as Combs's personal time and did not observe Jane as hesitant, apprehensive, or unwilling to participate; on redirect, he said he had not been present for the events and did not know whether their activities were legitimate or illegitimate. The court admitted additional exhibits and allowed four completing messages from Exhibit B-414 to be read. HSI Special Agent Joseph Cerciello then introduced prosecution-selected charts he had checked against cited records, including a chronological chart of selected locations, communications, travel, videos, and financial records involving Jane and others; he testified that the chart did not include every event or transaction.

1. Court Rulings and Trial Administration

The court resolved a juror-related defense application, ruled on exhibit objections, addressed jury-charge revisions, and admitted the parties' exhibit lists before Brendan Paul was called.

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Procedural
Court Rulings and Trial Administration
64 lines

The court denied a juror-related defense application, admitted disputed text-message exhibits, addressed jury-charge revisions, and admitted exhibit lists from both sides.

2. Brendan Paul — Direct/Cross/Redirect

Brendan Paul testified about his work as Sean Combs's assistant and tasks connected to wild king nights involving Combs and Jane. After his testimony, the court admitted Government Exhibit 1511 and allowed four completing messages from Exhibit B-414 to be read.

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Direct
Brendan Paul — Direct Brendan Paul Mary C. Slavik
1132 lines

Former assistant Brendan Paul described drug-related tasks, staff coordination, and the setup and cleanup of wild king nights.

Cross
Brendan Paul — Cross Brendan Paul Brian Steel
393 lines

Paul described his observations of drug use and wild king nights; the court allowed limited redirect on what he did not know about cash brought to those nights.

2 sidebars inside this proceeding
  1. Redirect Scope and SpeculationCounsel debated whether cross-examination about the witness's understanding of criminal conduct permitted redirect questioning about what he believed cash was used for.
  2. Redirect on Witness KnowledgeAt sidebar, the parties and court discussed whether redirect could explore the witness's lack of knowledge about whether money or events had legitimate or criminal purposes.
Redirect
Brendan Paul — Redirect Brendan Paul Mary C. Slavik
199 lines

Paul clarified the limits of his knowledge of wild king nights and described assistant duties; the court later allowed completing text messages to be read to the jury.

3. Joseph Cerciello — Direct (Part 1)

HSI Special Agent Joseph Cerciello authenticated prosecution charts and records, explaining that a chronological chart reflected selected documents rather than every event or transaction.

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Direct
Joseph Cerciello — Direct Joseph Cerciello Maurene R. Comey
882 lines

Agent Cerciello authenticated chart exhibits and used selected records to explain a chronology involving Jane, travel, hotels, communications, and financial entries.

1 sidebar inside this proceeding
  1. Phone Note Evidence ObjectionAt sidebar, the parties debated foundation and hearsay objections to admitting a limited, redacted entry from a phone note concerning a cash delivery.
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