Diddy’s federal trial took a dramatic turn on Tuesday as a hotel security guard testified that the music mogul paid him $100,000 to suppress footage of an alleged assault on Cassie Ventura.
The courtroom also heard new and disturbing details linking Diddy to accusations of sex trafficking, racketeering, and suspicious financial dealings.
The federal trial involving music industry heavyweight Sean “Diddy” Combs continued in a Manhattan courtroom on Tuesday, with explosive new witness testimonies shedding light on a widening web of allegations, including sex trafficking, assault, and racketeering.
At the heart of the trial are disturbing claims that Combs used his power, influence, and wealth over several decades to manipulate, threaten, and control women. Federal prosecutors allege that the music mogul orchestrated elaborate sexual events, often referred to as “freak offs,” through coercion, intimidation, and violence. These acts were allegedly concealed through the use of his entertainment empire and enforced by a network of handlers using threats, firearms, abduction, and even arson.
The 55-year-old hip-hop entrepreneur faces five serious charges: one count of racketeering conspiracy, two counts of sex trafficking by means of force, fraud, or coercion, and two counts of transporting individuals for the purpose of prostitution. Combs, who maintains his innocence, has entered a plea of not guilty. If convicted, he could face life imprisonment.
Court proceedings on Tuesday took a dramatic turn even before any witness had taken the stand. A woman in the courtroom began shouting obscenities directed at those present, particularly those she felt were mocking Combs. “These motherf***ers are laughing at you!” she screamed, prompting Judge Arun Subramanian to call for her immediate removal. “Escort her out right now!” he ordered as U.S. Marshals led the woman out of the courtroom.
Speaking to reporters outside the courthouse, the woman identified herself as a supporter of Combs. She expressed her frustration, saying that she found the atmosphere in court disrespectful and hurtful to someone she believes is being unfairly ridiculed.
Inside the courtroom, the focus quickly shifted to the testimonies of two pivotal witnesses. First to take the stand was Eddy Garcia, a former security guard at the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles. Garcia was granted immunity for his testimony after invoking his Fifth Amendment right. His testimony centered around a critical piece of evidence from March 2016: surveillance footage that allegedly captured Combs physically assaulting his then-girlfriend, singer Cassie Ventura, in an elevator area of the hotel.
Garcia testified that Combs’s then-chief of staff, Kristina Khorram, approached him shortly after the incident to inquire about the footage. Garcia stated that he informed her that viewing the footage would require a subpoena. However, the situation escalated when Combs himself called Garcia from his personal cellphone. During the call, Combs reportedly expressed panic, saying the video could “ruin” his life if made public. He then promised to “take care” of Garcia in exchange for the original copy of the video.
According to Garcia, he and his supervisor decided to sell the footage for $50,000. Days later, at a private meeting in a Los Angeles high-rise, Garcia claimed he met with Combs and joined a FaceTime call with Ventura. He testified that Ventura, under Combs’s direction, agreed that the video needed to disappear. Garcia was then asked to sign multiple documents, including a nondisclosure agreement, before handing over a USB drive containing the surveillance footage.
Garcia further recalled that Combs praised him, calling him “Eddy, my angel” and expressed his gratitude. Combs allegedly left the room and returned with a brown paper bag filled with $100,000 in cash. He reportedly ran the cash through a money-counting machine before giving it to Garcia. Garcia said Combs advised him not to make any conspicuous purchases that might attract attention.
Garcia then broke down how the money was distributed. He claimed he gave $50,000 to his supervisor who had authorized the sale, $20,000 to another guard who had access to the video footage, and kept the remaining $30,000 for himself.
The second witness to testify was Derek Ferguson, who once served as the Chief Financial Officer of Bad Boy Entertainment, Combs’s music label. Ferguson worked closely with Combs between 1998 and 2012, overseeing company budgets, staff salaries, and occasionally even managing his boss’s personal financial matters.
While on the stand, Ferguson was questioned about a series of financial transactions from December 2011 that prosecutors believe are tied to Cassie Ventura. These transactions included a $20,000 payment from Combs to Ventura on December 14, followed by a $20,000 deposit from Ventura’s father, Broderick Ventura, into Combs’s account on December 23. Days later, on December 27, another $20,000 payment was made from Combs back to Broderick Ventura.
Although the significance of these transactions has not been fully clarified, prosecutors are using them to build a broader narrative that suggests hush money or attempted financial influence tied to ongoing abuse.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Maurene Comey stated that more testimonies are expected as the case unfolds. On Wednesday, the court will hear from at least three additional witnesses. Among them is Bryana Bongolan, who has previously accused Combs of sexual battery and claims he once dangled her over a balcony during a violent outburst. Another accuser, referred to by the pseudonym “Jane,” is also scheduled to testify and will speak to the jury while maintaining her anonymity for safety and privacy reasons.
As the trial progresses, the courtroom drama and testimony paint a grim portrait of the music mogul once admired for revolutionizing hip-hop culture. The testimonies offered so far suggest a pattern of alleged abuse carefully hidden behind a glittering entertainment empire. Whether the prosecution can tie these accounts together into a cohesive case that convinces a jury beyond a reasonable doubt remains to be seen.
