Diddy trial recap as hotel security claims rapper 'paid $100,000' for Cassie assault tape
All eyes are once again on New York as Diddy's sex trafficking trial continues.
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ was arrested last September, accused of racketeering and sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, among other charges.
Combs has repeatedly denied all the charges against him and has pleaded not guilty.
A number of witnesses have testified against the music mogul over the past three weeks, including his ex girlfriend Cassie, her mom Regina, Diddy's former employees and staff at hotels the producer would stay in.
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Ventura - who gave birth days after finishing her testimony - was questioned extensively about Diddy, alleging she was physically assaulted and in one instance, raped by him.
Last week, the court heard from former Diddy employee Capricorn Clark, who alleges the rapper-producer would take control of both her and Cassie's phones, and even tracked his ex-partner's car.
On Tuesday (June 3), meanwhile, a former hotel worker took to the stand to give testimony.
Diddy allegedly paid $100,000 for CCTV footage
Eddy Garcia, a former hotel security guard, took the stand to testify about Combs’ efforts to obtain security footage of him assaulting then-girlfriend Ventura.
Garcia was working at the InterContinental Hotel in Century City the night of the March 2016 incident, which Ventura says followed one of the music producer’s infamous 'freak-offs.'
She has testified that Combs forced her to have sex with male escorts at such events. The defense, however, argues she was a willing participant.
CCTV footage from that night - already shown to jurors - captures Combs wearing only a towel and socks as he pushes Ventura to the ground, kicks her and drags her through the hotel hallway.
That footage resurfaced in late 2023 after Ventura filed a lawsuit accusing Combs of years of physical abuse during their on-and-off relationship from 2007 to 2018. The case was settled a day later, but the video quickly went viral, throwing Combs into the spotlight once more; this resulted in him issuing a public apology on Instagram shortly before his arrest.
Garcia testified that Combs first called him on the hotel’s security line shortly after the incident, saying he had 'a little too much to drink' and suggesting 'things happen' in relationships.
It was claimed that Combs later contacted Garcia on his personal cellphone, pleading: "You sound like a good guy," and warning that 'something like this could ruin him'.
Initially, Garcia told Combs he didn’t have access to the video. Later, however, he reached back out and said his supervisor was willing to erase the footage for $50,000.
Garcia said Combs was ecstatic, allegedly saying: “Eddie my angel, I knew you could help, I knew you could do it.”
The following day, Garcia was instructed by his supervisor, Madrano, to alter the time-stamps on his shift logs. He then traveled to a high-rise in Los Angeles, where he met Combs and handed over a USB drive with the footage, assuring him it was the only copy.
Before finalizing the exchange, Garcia voiced concern that police might come looking for the video if Ventura filed a report.
In response, Combs allegedly put him on the phone with a woman Garcia believed to be Ventura, who said she had a movie coming out and wanted the video to 'go away'.
Garcia then signed nondisclosure agreements affirming that the footage didn’t exist elsewhere and that he wouldn’t speak about the deal.
He testified that Combs also asked for photos of his driver’s license and IDs from two other guards 'so that we were all on the same page.'
Once the contracts were signed and the footage handed over, Combs returned with a brown paper bag and a money-counting machine.
He counted out $100,000 in cash, handed it to Garcia, and warned, 'don’t make any big purchases.'
Garcia said he kept $30,000 to buy a used car, gave $20,000 to another guard involved and handed $50,000 to his supervisor.
Combs does not deny the payment, but his attorneys claim it was made to avoid negative publicity, the Washington Post reports.
During cross examination, prosecutors asked Garcia why he had felt nervous around Combs during the transaction.
Garcia began to describe his fear of the powerful mogul, but defense attorneys quickly objected, cutting the testimony short.
Escort speaks out on Cassie's 'psychological' abuse
Away from court, escort Shawn Dearing, known professionally as 'Skyler,' broke his silence after his identity was revealed in the courtroom.
He had been mentioned by Cassie as one of the 10 men hired by Diddy to participate in the 'freak offs.'
In an interview with PEOPLE, Shawn claims he was hired for 'more than a dozen' times for sex with Cassie and Combs after meeting the couple around 2015.
“I never wanted to open my mouth,” he said. “I don't seek attention. I don’t want to go out there and make it seem like I’m trying to get my name known off of this experience."
He went on to allege that while he never saw Combs physically harm Cassie, he says he witnessed 'psychological' abuse - and suggested it appeared the singer was 'there under Diddy's control'.
"We did everything under his direction," he continued when describing the freak offs, adding there was a 'constant energy of knowing that we must perform for him or else'.
The 37-year-old further praised Cassie for her heartfelt and harrowing testimony, describing her as 'uplifting', 'the kindest and most respectful person' and a 'bada** lady' who was 'genuine throughout.'
Shawn has appeared to endorse Cassie's claims, stating Combs 'never touched me' but had directed the pair to engage in sexual activity.
Shawn further said he felt Cassie didn't want to take part in the sex parties, that took place in a Beverly Hills Hotel and a private condo in Los Angeles, stating that the young woman's attitude changed when the sessions turned 'dark'.
"You could see that it was kind of like the spirit was leaving the body," he told the news outlet.
What Combs' attorney has said
In response to the news of Combs' arrest last year, his attorney Marc Agnifilo told UNILAD at the time: "We are disappointed with the decision to pursue what we believe is an unjust prosecution of Mr. Combs by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
"Sean 'Diddy' Combs is a music icon, self-made entrepreneur, loving family man, and proven philanthropist who has spent the last 30 years building an empire, adoring his children, and working to uplift the Black community. He is an imperfect person, but he is not a criminal.
"To his credit Mr. Combs has been nothing but cooperative with this investigation and he voluntarily relocated to New York last week in anticipation of these charges. These are the acts of an innocent man with nothing to hide, and he looks forward to clearing his name in court."
The trial is expected to last around eight weeks. If convicted, Combs faces up to life in prison.
UNILAD has previously contacted representatives for Combs and Ventura for comment.
If you've been affected by any of the issues in this article, you can contact The National Sexual Assault Hotline on 800.656.HOPE (4673), available 24/7. Or you can chat online via online.rainn.org
Topics: Court, Diddy, Domestic Abuse, US News, Crime
Ellie Kemp