A security officer, Eddy Garcia, provided critical testimony on Tuesday regarding a significant incident involving music mogul Sean Combs. Garcia revealed that Combs allegedly paid him $100,000 in a brown paper bag for surveillance footage that recorded an altercation between Combs and his longtime girlfriend, Casandra Ventura, at a Los Angeles hotel in 2016. This testimony comes as part of an ongoing legal investigation into the events surrounding this incident.
Garcia is testifying under an immunity order after initially indicating that he would invoke his Fifth Amendment right, which protects individuals from self-incrimination. During his testimony, Garcia recounted events from March 5, 2016, the date of the alleged assault. He received a call from Kristina Khorram, an employee of Combs, who inquired about obtaining a copy of the surveillance footage. Garcia stated that he firmly declined her request, both over the phone and later when she visited the hotel lobby.
That evening, Garcia testified, he received another call from Khorram, who set up a conversation with Combs himself. According to Garcia, the music mogul sounded anxious and admitted to having “a little too much” to drink on the day of the incident. Combs expressed concern that if the video were released, it “could ruin him.” Despite the pressure, Garcia maintained his stance and rejected Combs’ requests for the footage.
After further discussions with Khorram and Combs, the security officer eventually consulted with his supervisor, who agreed to sell the footage for $50,000. When Garcia communicated this offer to Combs, he claimed that the mogul was enthusiastic, exclaiming, “Eddy, my angel, I knew you could help. I knew you could do it.” This exchange highlights the lengths to which Combs was willing to go to prevent the footage from becoming public.
The ongoing testimony from Eddy Garcia provides crucial insights into the events surrounding the alleged assault and the subsequent attempts to conceal evidence. As the case unfolds, it raises significant questions about accountability and the lengths individuals may go to protect their reputations.