At the ongoing sex trafficking trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs, a hotel security officer testified Tuesday that the music mogul paid to obtain surveillance footage capturing him violently assaulting his then-girlfriend, Casandra Ventura.
Eddy Garcia, formerly employed at an Intercontinental hotel, told jurors that Combs reached out to him shortly after the incident, requesting the video.
According to Garcia, Combs said he would “take care” of him if he handed over the footage.
“He was concerned that this video would get out and that it would ruin his career,” Garcia testified. He has been granted immunity from prosecution for his cooperation.
Combs, now 55, faces five federal charges, including racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking. Prosecutors in Manhattan allege that, over a span of 20 years, Combs coerced women, including Ventura, into participating in drug-fueled sex acts with male sex workers referred to as “Freak Offs.”
Now in its fourth week, the trial has already seen jurors review March 2016 surveillance footage from the Los Angeles Intercontinental hotel.
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The video shows Combs, wearing only a towel, throwing Ventura to the ground, kicking her, and dragging her away.
Ventura claimed the violent altercation happened after Combs had given her a black eye during one of the so-called “Freak Offs.”
Garcia also testified that he relayed Combs’ request for the footage to his supervisor, who responded that the video could be handed over in exchange for $50,000.
The next day, Garcia said he witnessed his boss entering the server room that stored surveillance footage.
Later, the boss gave him a USB drive, which Garcia then delivered to Combs.
According to Garcia, Combs later returned with a brown bag and a money counter. “He ran cash from the bag through the counter, which displayed $100,000,” Garcia said. Combs then placed the money back in the bag and handed it to him.
While Combs’ legal team has admitted that he was abusive in some past relationships, they maintain that all participants in the “Freak Offs” were involved consensually.
However, prosecutors argue that the bribery incident is one of several racketeering acts allegedly committed by Combs or his associates in an attempt to cover up abuse and facilitate the exploitative events.
