Hotel Guard Testifies Diddy Paid $100K to Bury Cassie Assault Video

During Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal sex trafficking trial in 2025, former InterContinental Hotel security guard Eddy Garcia testified that Combs paid him $100,000 in cash to obtain and silence the only copy of a 2016 surveillance video showing Combs allegedly assaulting his then-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura. Garcia described how Combs’ chief of staff first inquired about the footage, followed by Combs himself, who warned the tape could ruin his career and promised financial rewards for help. A deal was made with Garcia’s supervisor to erase the footage for $50,000, and Garcia signed a non-disclosure agreement with a $1 million penalty for breach before handing over a USB drive to Combs and receiving the money, which he split among himself and other hotel employees. The trial also revealed testimony from Combs’ former assistant, referred to as “Mia,” who accused him of violently assaulting her and Cassie, including an incident where Cassie’s head was split open. The proceedings have been marked by courtroom disruptions, including a woman loudly protesting and a YouTuber banned for revealing a witness’s real identity, reflecting the intense public and media interest in the case.