Editor’s Note: This story contains discussions of rape or sexual assault that may be disturbing. Reader discretion is advised. If you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, you can find help and discreet resources on the National Sexual Assault Hotline website or by calling 1-800-656-4673.
(NewsNation) — A former security employee at the Los Angeles hotel where Sean “Diddy” Combs allegedly assaulted ex-girlfriend Casandra “Cassie” Ventura took the stand Tuesday in the criminal trial for the music producer.
Prosecutors called Eddy Garcia, who worked in security for the Intercontinental Hotel in Los Angeles, the scene of the alleged attack on Ventura by Combs that was caught on video in 2016.
Garcia testified under immunity after he appeared Monday to invoke his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.
The ex-security personnel only worked for the LA-based hotel for a few months prior to the alleged assault caught on camera and monitored the security camera footage.
Diddy struck cash deal to bury 2016 Cassie hotel tape: Testimony
Kristina Khorram, Combs’ chief of staff, initially contacted Garcia about the damning video and passed the phone to the hip-hop mogul, he said.
Garcia recounted a phone call with Combs.
“You sound like a good guy. You sound like you want to help. Something like this could ruin my career,” Combs said, according to Garcia.
The rapper asked Garcia if he had access to the security footage. Garcia said he checked with his supervisor, Bill Medrano, who informed him they did not have access to the server.
Combs offered financial compensation for the sole copy of the hotel security camera footage. Garcia informed Medrano of the monetary offer. Garcia’s then-boss agreed to hand over the footage for $50,000, he said.
After Garcia informed Combs that they had a deal, he said the record label executive responded, “Eddy, my angel. I knew you could do it.”
On March 7, 2016, Garcia dropped off the USB drive with the hotel footage to Combs. The rapper wanted confirmation it was the only existing copy, and it was not stored anywhere else. Garcia reassured him, he told the jury.
However, Garcia expressed concern if Ventura were to report the assault to law enforcement. Combs called Ventura via FaceTime and told his then-partner, “Tell him you wanted this too,” the ex-security personnel worker recalled.
Garcia said Ventura affirmed what Combs said.
He then signed a nondisclosure agreement with a $1 million breach clause and revealed he was too nervous to read the document.
He said on the stand that Combs returned with a brown paper bag. The entertainment entrepreneur took out $100,000 and counted out in $10,000 increments.
Garcia said he gave $50,000 to his then-boss, and another security officer, Henry Elias, who was on duty during the attack, $20,000. He kept $30,000 for himself.
He said that Combs advised him, “Don’t make any large purchases.”
On Easter, Garcia said Combs called him.
“If you ever need anything, just let me know,” Combs told him.
Diddy-Cassie hotel video central to prosecution’s case
The video of the attack was first released by CNN last year and showed Combs running in a towel after Ventura, who is seen standing in front of a hotel elevator bank. In the video, Combs appears to aggressively grab and drag her down and then kick her before picking up her luggage. He is then seen dragging her on the floor back to a hotel room as she braces her head.
Ventura testified about the alleged attack while on the stand earlier in the trial. Jurors were shown the complete surveillance video as evidence.
Ventura said she has reached a $10 million settlement with the Intercontinental Hotel in Los Angeles but did not disclose the details while testifying.
Former CFO of Bad Boy Entertainment testifies
After Garcia testified, Derek Ferguson, former CFO of Bad Boy Entertainment and COO of Revolt Films and TV, took the stand. He worked for the Combs companies from 1998 to 2017. He served as CFO from 1998 to 2012, overseeing finances for the company.
He said he would usually report directly to the mogul and stated that Combs had full ownership of Bad Boy Productions, Bad Boy Marketing and Bad Boy Films. Ferguson explained that other companies, Sean John and Bad Boy Records, had partners.
Ex-Diddy assistant ‘Mia’ true identity leaked
Garcia’s testimony follows three days of questioning of Combs’ former assistant, known only under the pseudonym “Mia.”
The prosecution raised concerns Tuesday with the judge over the use of Mia’s real identity by two media outlets. The government said it would file a motion with links to the stories Tuesday.
An attorney, Arick Fudali, partner at The Bloom Firm, represents two Combs accusers, Dawn Richard, formerly of pop group Danity Kane, and a man identified as “John Doe” in civil cases, stressed the importance of anonymity for witnesses like Mia, who say they are victims of sexual abuse.
“While I don’t know the details of what lead to this, I can say in representing many victims of alleged violence and sexual assault, that the ability to testify and proceed anonymously is paramount for many victims who fear from shame, embarrassment, or even harm if their identities are revealed,” Fudali said. “When plaintiffs or witnesses are allowed to testify under pseudonym, they are doing so for a very important reason, and it is necessary for all parties, observers, and journalists to respect that anonymity.”
Tamara Holder, a Chicago-based women’s rights and sexual abuse attorney, spoke to NewsNation about some media outlets using Mia’s real name and whether it could cause any complications for the trial.
“I’m shocked that a media outlet did this and did not protect a victim’s identity. If there is a serious procedural error or misconduct, a mistrial would be proper, but the jury would not have the media reports anyway. The concern is the impact on the jury, not the public. I don’t see this being worthy of consideration of a mistrial,” Holder said.
Ex-Diddy assistant says she was raped
On Monday, Combs’ lawyer, Brian Steel, conducted an aggressive cross-examination of the former assistant Mia, who had testified she had been sexually assaulted by Combs a number of times.
The defense attorney presented several texts sent by Mia, showing her admiration for Combs after she stopped working for him.
Steel presented a text from Mia to Combs on Jan. 15, 2019, in which she mentioned having a nightmare featuring R. Kelly, and Combs came to her rescue.
The defense attorney questioned why she would consider her alleged abuser as her “savior” and why she would share this dream with him.
In that back-and-forth with Steel, she detailed how she “did love that dude,” referring to Combs, and during that time, the public still adored the mogul.
In a more tense exchange with Steel, he asked if Mia had any supporting evidence in real-time to back up her allegations against Combs.
“Do you have anything where you contemporaneously wrote (about abuse)?” Steel questioned her.
She replied that she would not do that during that time and said she never told anyone about the alleged abuse she suffered.
Defense attorneys attacked Mia on her credibility, to which Mia stood firm, saying, “I have never lied in this courtroom, and I will never lie in this courtroom.”
Steel also questioned if she was seeking monetary compensation from Combs and if she would sue the fallen entrepreneur over sex abuse claims, to which Mia answered no.
Combs has been charged with criminal federal racketeering and sex trafficking. He has pleaded not guilty.