Sean Combs, known as ‘Diddy’, is facing serious allegations in a Manhattan federal trial, where prosecutors claim he attempted to silence a hotel security guard following a violent incident with his ex-girlfriend Cassie.
Eddy Garcia, a former security guard, testified that Combs predicted his career would be severely damaged if footage of the March 2016 assault were to be released to the public.
According to Garcia, Combs made this prediction multiple times before offering him a brown paper bag filled with $100,000 in cash. The suitcase of cash was reportedly intended to secure what Combs believed to be the only copy of the surveillance video showing him kicking, beating, and dragging Cassie in a hotel hallway.
The video footage has become a central piece of evidence for the prosecution as they argue that it corroborates the claims of multiple women, including Cassie, who allege that the Bad Boy Records founder abused them over the span of two decades.
Prosecutors assert that Combs has a history of using threats along with his wealth and fame to manipulate situations in his favor, effectively silencing his accusers.
In his testimony, Garcia, 33, detailed how after the attack, he communicated several times with Kristina Khorram, Combs’s chief-of-staff. He expressed his concerns about potentially revealing the damaging footage, describing it as ‘bad’ during their conversations.
Garcia mentioned a phone call where a visibly anxious Combs spoke with him, repeatedly stressing the threat to his career if the footage got out. Garcia recalled Combs saying, ‘I had a little too much to drink,’ and remarked that, ‘with women, one thing leads to another.’
The testimony suggested a pattern of desperation from Combs as he reached out to Garcia, stressing the need for discretion.
The security guard described a tense interaction over the phone where Combs suggested Garcia could help him procure the footage, implying a financial incentive. After confirming that he could acquire the video from his employer for $50,000, Garcia reported Combs appeared excited about the prospect.
Garcia underscored how Combs affectionately referred to him as ‘Eddy my angel,’ demonstrating a personal rapport that further complicated their transaction.
Within days of the assault, Garcia exchanged the video footage for the cash at a meeting where he encountered Combs’s bodyguard and Khorram. Feeling pressured and nervous, he signed a non-disclosure agreement that stipulated a hefty million-dollar penalty for any breach.
During the meeting, he admitted that he did not thoroughly read the documents, as his focus was on leaving swiftly due to the anxiety of the situation.
Once the deal was made, Combs advised Garcia on how to handle the sudden influx of cash, warning him against making large purchases that could draw attention to his new wealth.
Garcia chose to keep his earnings off the bank grid, avoiding any paper trail. He allocated $50,000 to his employer and another $20,000 to a fellow security officer while keeping $30,000 for himself, part of which he used to buy a used car.
Several weeks later, Garcia recounted receiving a call from Combs, who seemed pleased and opened their conversation with a cheerful greeting. However, despite expressing interest in future employment for Garcia, Combs’s responses ultimately proved to be lackluster.
In a twist that adds complexity to the situation, it was revealed last year that CNN aired footage of the attack which had been recorded by another hotel guard on his personal device.
As the trial continues, the jury must sift through the explosive allegations and Chilling evidence surrounding Sean Combs in a case that not only targets his personal conduct but also scrutinizes the lengths he allegedly went to in order to protect his public persona.
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