In a federal court case unfolding in Manhattan, testimony has unveiled disturbing details of an attack involving celebrated hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs and his longtime girlfriend, Cassie Ventura. According to a former security guard, Eddy Garcia, Combs was aware that his illustrious career could face irreversible damage if footage of him assaulting Cassie in a hotel hallway were made public. This was communicated during an incident in March 2016, following which Combs reportedly gave Garcia a hefty sum to secure the video copy, hoping to prevent the footage from ever seeing the light of day.
Garcia, who was 33 at the time, recounted in court how Combs repeatedly expressed concern over the potential impact on his public persona if the video were to leak. Combs went so far as to give Garcia a brown paper bag filled with $100,000 in cash in exchange for what he believed was the sole recording of the incident. This footage, which captures Combs physically assaulting, kicking, and dragging Cassie at the Intercontinental Hotel in Los Angeles, has become pivotal to prosecutors’ efforts to substantiate claims against Combs. He is charged with multiple grave offenses, including sex trafficking and racketeering, but has entered a plea of not guilty.
The legal proceedings have brought to light Combs’ alleged attempts to conceal the attack. Garcia recounted multiple interactions with Combs’ chief-of-staff, Kristina Khorram, where he indicated the severity of the situation, noting during a telephone conversation that “off the record, it’s bad.” Combs himself was reported to sound nervous and defensive, attributing his actions to excessive drinking. He allegedly implied to Garcia that the footage could have catastrophic effects on him if released. The nervousness was emphasized by Garcia’s observation of Combs’ rapid and stutter-filled speech.
Following the incident, Garcia received a call from Khorram that was relayed to Combs. Combs attempted to assure Garcia of his goodwill and financial backing if he could deliver the footage. Despite his initial access limitations, Garcia discussed a deal with a superior who agreed to sell the footage to Combs for $50,000. Upon informing Combs of the arrangement, Garcia described Combs as evidently relieved, referring to him as “Eddy my angel.”
Within just two days of the physical altercation, Garcia managed to hand over a storage device containing the crucial footage, receiving $100,000 from Combs, who meticulously counted the cash with a money machine before placing it into a brown bag. This transaction was sealed with a confidentiality agreement that demanded a $1 million penalty should Garcia breach its terms. At the time, Garcia earned modest pay as a security officer, which perhaps underpinned his decision to accept the hush money, despite the risks involved.
Garcia admitted in court he dispersed the funds by giving $50,000 to his boss and $20,000 to another colleague, ultimately keeping $30,000 for personal use, which he used to purchase a second-hand vehicle. He was cautious to avoid depositing the money in a bank to eliminate any potential financial trail linking him to the agreement.
Weeks after the transaction, Combs contacted Garcia to check if there had been any inquiries regarding the video. Combs expressed his relief and gratitude, reinforcing the sense of partnership by referring to Garcia as an “angel.” Despite Garcia’s optimism for more collaborative work, Combs never followed up on their last interaction.
The confidentiality of the footage came into question when it later surfaced on a national news network. Another security guard admitted to making his own copy by recording the screen with his phone, further indicating lapses in the attempt to suppress the footage. This revelation has added layers of complexity to the allegations looming over Combs, intensifying the scrutiny surrounding his conduct and character.