Hotel security officer testifies Diddy paid $100K to suppress assault video
Share and Follow

This is a free article for Diddy on Trial newsletter subscribers. Sign up to get exclusive reporting and analysis throughout Sean Combs’ federal trial.

Much of today’s testimony was spent revisiting Diddy’s March 2016 assault on Casandra Ventura, an incident at the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles that was captured on security video and shown to jurors at the start of his trial. Eddy Garcia, the hotel’s security supervisor, testified that Diddy and his team desperately wanted to get the sole copy of the video and prevent it from getting out. In exchange for $100,000 divided among members of the hotel’s security team, Garcia said, he signed a nondisclosure agreement that called for his silence and the destruction of evidence.

Here’s what else to know about today’s testimony:

  • Garcia testified that he was so “nervous” about the NDA that he didn’t read it all before he signed it. Diddy presented stacks of cash in a brown paper bag, added Garcia, who said he bought a used car with his $30,000 share.
  • Garcia also said he wasn’t initially truthful to police when he was asked about the assault. On cross-examination, the defense pointed out the NDA didn’t stop Garcia from speaking about it in legal proceedings, a line of questioning presumably intended to undermine the government’s potential claim of obstruction of justice.
  • After Garcia, Derek Ferguson, the former chief financial officer of Bad Boy Entertainment, took the stand to discuss the structure of Diddy’s businesses and how money flowed.

🔎 The view from inside

By am Reiss and Jing Feng

For the first time during the trial, a spectator disrupted the courtroom decorum, prompting U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian to order court marshals to “escort her out right now.”

The uproar began before the jury was seated and Garcia took the stand. At first, both prosecutors and the defense team were discussing with Subramanian exhibits in the trial and whether to offer evidence of Diddy’s jail calls. Prosecutors also complained to Subramanian that a person who had been in the courtroom Monday broadcast on YouTube the real identity of a government witness, who went by the pseudonym “Mia” when she testified.

A courtroom sketch of a shouting woman is escorted from the courthouse by marshals
Marshals escort a shouting woman from the courthouse on Tuesday.Jane Rosenberg / Reuters

Suddenly, a woman in the courtroom began shouting in defense of Diddy, including that “it’s not right what they’re doing to him” and “Diddy’s innocent.” She was quickly removed.

Prosecutors later told Subramanian that the true name and identity of “Mia” were being reported and asked for him to ban the outlet that made them public from the court. He said he would consider such a court order.


🗓️ What’s next

Tomorrow: Frank Piazza, a forensic video expert, and Bryana Bangolan, who alleges that Diddy dangled her over an apartment balcony, may testify.

PSA: Every night during Diddy’s trial, NBC’s “Dateline” will drop special episodes of the “True Crime Weekly” podcast to get you up to speed. “Dateline” correspondent Andrea Canning chats with NBC News’ Chloe Melas and special guests — right in front of the courthouse. Listen here. 🎧

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Washington anti-ICE agitators clash with crowd calling for Iran regime change

Protesters in Washington D.C. Supporting Iran Regime Change Confront Anti-ICE Demonstrators

On Sunday, Washington, D.C. became the epicenter of conflicting demonstrations as rival…
Street takeovers and traffic control by agitators in Minnesota cross legal lines, retired detective says

Street Takeovers in Minnesota: Retired Detective Warns of Legal Violations Amid Rising Traffic Disruptions

Individuals disrupting traffic and hindering police operations in Minnesota have come under…
Mississippi synagogue burned in arson attack, suspect in custody

Breaking News: Suspect Arrested After Arson Attack Devastates Historic Mississippi Synagogue

A suspect has been detained following an alleged arson attack that engulfed…
Driver appears to ram U-Haul truck through crowd during Iran protest in Los Angeles

U-Haul Truck Allegedly Driven into Crowd at Los Angeles Iran Protest

A tense scene unfolded in Los Angeles as a U-Haul truck reportedly…
Footage shows grieving families in Iran wailing and desperately searching through rows of dead of bodies for loved ones

Heart-wrenching Footage Captures Iranian Families in Solemn Search for Lost Loved Ones Among Rows of Deceased

Tragic scenes have emerged from Iran, where devastated families are combing through…
Our Chicago: The 2026 Great Chicago Blood Drive

Mark Your Calendars: The Great Chicago Blood Drive Returns in 2026!

The Great Chicago Blood Drive is scheduled for January 14th and 15th,…
34 Swiss inferno victims 'died after renovated staircase "fell apart"

Renovated Staircase Collapse in Switzerland Claims 34 Lives: Tragic Details Emerge

The tragic New Year’s fire at a Swiss bar claimed the lives…
Exclusive | Slow release of security video in Christmas Day slay of Long Island CVS worker prompts proposed law

Exclusive: New Legislation Proposed After Delayed Release of Security Footage in Long Island CVS Christmas Day Tragedy

Police on Long Island have expressed frustration over CVS’s delayed release of…