Diddy Trial: Security Officer Testifies About $100,000 Payout to Suppress Assault Video

The trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs took a dramatic turn today as new testimony revealed the extraordinary lengths the music mogul allegedly went to in order to suppress damaging evidence of an assault involving Cassie Ventura.

Security Officer Details $100,000 Payoff

The day’s key witness was Eddie Garcia, a former security officer at the Intercontinental Hotel. Garcia testified that Diddy paid him $100,000 for what Diddy believed was the only copy of a surveillance video showing the assault on Cassie Ventura. Garcia described how Diddy’s chief of staff, Christina Karam, repeatedly called him after the incident, eventually putting Diddy himself on the line. Diddy, sounding nervous, told Garcia that the video could ruin him and promised compensation to ensure its discretion.

Garcia recounted how he negotiated a $50,000 price with his boss, only for Diddy to double it. The next day, Garcia handed over the video on a thumb drive, signed a nondisclosure agreement (NDA), and received a brown paper bag filled with cash. The money was then split among Garcia, his boss, and another security officer. Garcia also testified that he spoke with Cassie Ventura via FaceTime, who expressed her own wish for the video not to be released due to her movie contract.

Financial Testimony and Overlapping Accounts

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The prosecution also called Derek, the former chief financial officer of Bad Boy Entertainment, who testified about the overlap between Diddy’s personal and business finances. He claimed he never saw anyone help Diddy commit crimes. The jury was shown a $20,000 wire transfer from Cassie’s father to Diddy, which was later returned—evidence that aligns with previous testimony from Cassie’s mother about a payoff following threats to leak sensitive material.

Legal Experts Debate the Implications

Legal analysts noted the significance of Garcia’s testimony, especially the direct involvement of Diddy in the transaction and the use of a company NDA threatening $1 million in damages for breach. While the defense argued that the NDA did not prohibit Garcia from testifying, prosecutors emphasized the alleged bribery and obstruction as predicate crimes for racketeering charges.

Panelists debated whether Diddy’s actions constituted normal celebrity “damage control” or crossed the line into criminal obstruction. The consensus was that while celebrities often pay to suppress embarrassing information, paying to destroy evidence of a crime—especially one involving violence—could be seen as obstruction of justice.

What’s Next?

As the trial continues, the public and legal experts alike are watching closely to see whether the prosecution can prove a pattern of racketeering and criminal enterprise, or if the defense can successfully frame Diddy’s actions as aggressive but legal reputation management.