Hotel Guard Testifies That P. Diddy Paid $100,000 Bribe to Cover Up Cassie Assault Tape

A former hotel security guard has taken the stand in the high-profile trial of music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, alleging that Diddy paid him $100,000 in cash in a desperate attempt to suppress a surveillance video showing the brutal assault of singer Cassandra “Cassie” Ventura in a Los Angeles hotel hallway in 2016.

A Decade-Long Secret

For years, the world wondered how a video depicting an A-list celebrity beating his girlfriend could remain hidden—until it was leaked to CNN in 2024 and became a centerpiece in the criminal case against Combs. This week, Eddie Garcia, a former security guard at the Intercontinental Hotel, revealed in court the lengths to which Diddy and his inner circle allegedly went to ensure the video never saw the light of day.

The Incident and the Cover-Up

According to Garcia, he was on duty the night of the incident in 2016, when Diddy—wrapped in a towel—chased down Cassie Ventura, then his on-again, off-again girlfriend, and assaulted her in the hallway. The security footage, now seen by millions, shows Combs physically beating Ventura, dragging her, and throwing a vase at her in a fit of rage. Ventura later said she was fleeing from drug-fueled parties involving escorts, which she claimed she had been forced to participate in.

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Garcia testified that, at the time, police were not called because Ventura did not request it, and no charges were filed. But Diddy and his team, aware of the damaging nature of the footage, allegedly launched an aggressive campaign to retrieve and destroy the evidence.

The Pressure Campaign

Christina Cororum, Diddy’s chief of staff and “right-hand woman,” repeatedly contacted Garcia, both by phone and in person, demanding access to the video. When Garcia refused, Cororum escalated the matter, and eventually Diddy himself called Garcia, attempting to downplay the incident as a drunken mistake and warning that the video could “ruin” him.

Despite Garcia’s initial resistance, the offer of money soon entered the picture. Garcia’s supervisor, Bill Madano, told him that Diddy would pay $50,000 for the footage. When Garcia relayed this to Diddy, Diddy allegedly called him “Eddie my angel” and arranged a secret meeting in a Los Angeles high-rise.

The Exchange

Garcia described the clandestine meeting as something out of a movie. He was escorted upstairs by a towering member of Diddy’s security team, met with Diddy and Cororum, and handed over what he believed to be the only copy of the video on a USB drive. Diddy, after confirming the exclusivity of the footage, brought out a cash counter and paid $100,000—double the originally agreed amount. Garcia kept $30,000, gave $20,000 to another security guard, and $50,000 to his supervisor.

Before leaving, Garcia was made to sign a non-disclosure agreement under the watchful eyes of Diddy’s security, with a $1 million penalty for breach. Garcia testified that he was too intimidated to read the document in full.

Aftermath and Trial Impact

Despite these efforts, the video resurfaced in 2024 and became key evidence in the racketeering and sex trafficking case against Combs. The prosecution argues that Diddy’s actions are consistent with operating a criminal enterprise, using money and intimidation to cover up criminal behavior. Christina Cororum’s role as Diddy’s fixer has also come under scrutiny, though it remains unclear if she will testify.

The defense has attempted to undermine witness credibility by highlighting inconsistencies and suggesting that many employees continued to praise Diddy publicly even after the alleged abuse. However, the prosecution maintains that the pressure campaign, bribes, and use of NDAs closely resemble tactics seen in organized crime cases.

Legal Analysis

Legal experts note that non-disclosure agreements hold no power in the face of a court subpoena, and Garcia’s immunity in exchange for his testimony further lends credibility to his account.

As the trial continues, the repeated viewing of the assault video is expected to have a significant impact on the jury, reinforcing the prosecution’s portrayal of Combs as someone capable of extreme violence and willing to go to great lengths to protect his reputation.

Combs has pleaded not guilty to all charges. The trial is expected to last several more weeks.

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