Diddy’s $100 000 cover-up: trial unveils shocking attempt to hide damaging domestic violence video

During the ongoing trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs, hotel security worker Eddy Garcia testified that the hip-hop mogul paid $100 000 (R1.77m) in a frantic effort to suppress what he believed was the only copy of the 2016 video of him beating his then-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, in a hotel hallway.

Garcia recalled how this footage, now a cornerstone of the prosecution's case, has surfaced at a particularly vulnerable moment in Combs's life.

The video, captured by security cameras at the Intercontinental Hotel in Los Angeles, shows Combs kicking and dragging Ventura.

Testifying as a star witness for the government, Ventura earlier described the incident where she attempted to flee one of Combs's notorious drug-fueled parties, known as "freak-offs".

“When I chose to leave, I grabbed what I could, and I got out. Sean followed me into the hallway before the elevators and grabbed me up, threw me on the ground, kicked me, and tried to drag me back to the room," she said during her testimony. 

Combs has pleaded not guilty to five counts related to sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy, and transportation to engage in prostitution.

His legal team maintains that while the domestic violence shown in the video is regrettable, it should not be conflated with the more serious charges he faces, asserting that Ventura was a willing participant in the sexual escapades.

Garcia told the court: "He was concerned this video would get out and it would ruin his career," recalling that Combs allegedly referred to him affectionately as “Eddy my angel” during the supposed bribe.

During his shift at the InterContinental Hotel on March 5, 2016, Garcia heard about the incident shortly after clocking in. He explained how he received calls from Combs' assistant, Kristina Khorram, who attempted to secure access to the video.

Despite winding conversations and initial denials, Garcia ultimately agreed to transfer the footage in exchange for a hefty sum: “He asked me how I would spend the money, and I said I didn’t know," Garcia said. 

Following the transaction, Garcia said Combs allegedly contacted Ventura via FaceTime to reinforce their mutual interest in burying the damaging evidence.

"She was wearing a hoodie, and the lighting wasn't that great," Garcia said of Ventura. "Before he passed the phone over to me, he said, 'Let him know that you want this to go away too'."

Prosecutor Mitzi Steiner asked: "And how did Cassie respond?" 

"When I got passed the phone, I said, 'Hi', she said 'Hi' and she said she had a movie coming out and it wasn't a good time for this to come out and she wanted it to go away," Garcia responded.

Garcia told jurors that Combs demanded that he sign a nondisclosure agreement, agree to a certification that there was only one copy of the video, and hand over his ID as well as the identification of his supervisor and coworker.

Garcia then testified that Combs left the room and returned with a brown bag and a money counter, which Combs fed "stacks of $10 000 at a time."

"In total, at the end it was $100 000," he testified.

The US government has framed Combs's $100 000 payment as a bribery attempt, which they argue points to a broader criminal scheme. 

The trial is set to continue with further testimonies, including accounts from additional alleged victims and Combs's former romantic partners.

A woman dubbed "Jane" is currently testifying.