The trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs is happening right now in a federal court in Manhattan. One important witness, a former hotel security guard, told the court that Diddy gave him $100,000 to get a video showing him attacking singer Cassie Ventura in 2016.
The prosecutors say that Combs has been abusing and forcing women into long sexual acts for many years. They also say he used his power, guns, kidnapping, and even arson to hide what he did. Combs faces five serious charges, including running a criminal group and sex trafficking.
Combs says he is innocent, but if found guilty, he could go to prison for life.
Before the court session, a woman shouted loudly in support of Combs and was taken out by the judge. She was upset that some people in the courtroom were making fun of him.
The first witness, Eddy Garcia, used to work as a security guard at the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles. He was there when Combs was caught on camera hurting Cassie in an elevator. Garcia said Combs’s staff asked him about the video. When Garcia said a court order was needed to see it, Combs called him and said the video could ruin his career. Combs promised to “take care” of Garcia if he got the only copy.
Garcia and his boss agreed to sell the video for $50,000. Later, Combs met Garcia in person and had a video call with Cassie, who said she also wanted the video to disappear. Garcia signed papers that stopped him from talking about the video and gave Combs the USB drive with the footage.
Combs then gave Garcia $100,000 in cash. He told Garcia not to spend too much money at once and asked him to share some of it with other security guards who worked that day. Garcia gave some money to his boss and another guard and kept some for himself.
The next witness was Derek Ferguson, who was the chief financial officer for Combs’s company, Bad Boy Entertainment, from 1998 to 2012. He talked about money records that showed transfers of $20,000 between Combs, Cassie Ventura, and her father in 2011.
The trial will continue with more witnesses, including women who say Combs abused them. The case is still ongoing and very serious.
