The witness in this stunning sex-trafficking and racketeering conspiracy trial testified with immunity, so he can’t be prosecuted for taking the bribe or anything else related to his testimony.
Combs, 55, is accused of using his fame, fortune and many businesses to run a decade-long scheme in which he controlled and manipulated Ventura, 38, using violence and threats, forcing her and others — including several escorts — into drug-fueled “freak-off” sex marathons that went on for days.
The trial is not televised because cameras are prohibited inside the federal courthouse, but we’re there following all the action — so watch this space for the latest updates.
Trial has wrapped up for the day after the testimony of Sean "Diddy" Combs' former longtime executive concluded.
New footage of Combs' notorious beating of girlfriend Cassie Ventura is expected to be shown to jurors tomorrow when witness Frank Piazza takes the stand.
New footage of Combs beating Cassie Ventura is expected to be shown to jurors during the next witness' testimony. REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg
Bana Bongolan, a woman who claims the Bad Boy Records founder once dangled her over a balcony, is expected to follow.
One major witness, who will testify anonymously under the name "Jane," could take the stand as early as tomorrow afternoon to begin testimony that could last up to six days.
Combs' federal trial wrapped for the day after Derek Ferguson, former head of the finance department for Combs Enterprises, finished testifying. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz
Jane dated Combs starting in 2020 and claims he forced her to have sex with male prostitutes without condoms and also viciously beat her.
The hedge fund Highbridge Capital Management — which dead sex predator Jeffrey Epstein reportedly invested in — came up during former Bad Boy Records executive Derek Ferguson's testimony Tuesday.
The investment company, which was purchased by JP Morgan Chase in 2004, owned part of Combs' media company Revolt TV, Ferguson testified.
"They had a say in a lot of actions of the enterprise," the executive told jurors.
A hedge fund linked to Jeffrey Epstein came up during Derek Ferguson's testimony. REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg
Highbridge Capital Management — which Epstein invested $10 million into — owned part of Revolt TV, Ferguson testified. REUTERS
The disgraced financier, who killed himself inside a Manhattan lockup while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, also had longstanding ties to Highbridge's billionaire founder Glenn Dubin, according to reports.
Sean "Diddy" Combs' mother, Janice Combs, 84, and son Justin Dior Combs, 31, arrived at Manhattan federal court Tuesday morning to attend the 14th day of the disgraced music mogul's sex-trafficking and racketeering trial.
Sean "Diddy" Combs' mother, Janice Combs, 84, arriving for her son's sex-trafficking trial at Manhattan federal court on June 3, 2025. Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
Combs' son Justin Combs, 31, arriving at court. Getty Images
Justin Combs was accompanied by friend Charlie Lucci, who wore a "Free Puff" sweatshirt. LP media
Combs' bulldog attorney Brian Steel arriving ahead of the rapper's trial Tuesday. Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
Members of the press and public waiting in line to enter federal court Tuesday morning. David 'Dee' Delgado/UPI/Shutterstock
One of several influencers who have been hanging around outside the courthouse since the trial began three weeks ago, filming a video. David 'Dee' Delgado/UPI/Shutterstock
Longtime Diddy executive Derek Ferguson is slated to continue testifying after lunch around 1:15 p.m.
Sean "Diddy" Combs watching as Derek Ferguson, the former chief financial officer for Bad Boy Records, testifies on June 3, 2025. REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg
Security guard Eddy Garcia just admitted that he initially lied to federal investigators about his involvement in helping Sean "Diddy" Combs get the video of him beating his girlfriend Cassie Ventura.
Garcia testified that the feds contacted him in June 2024 but he lied to them and deleted incriminating text messages.
Security guard Eddy Garcia admitted that he initially lied to federal investigators about his involvement in helping Sean "Diddy" Combs get the video of him beating his girlfriend Cassie Ventura. U.S. Attorneys SDNY
Cassie and Diddy at a Roc Nation event at One World Observatory in Manhattan on Jan. 27, 2018, the year she finally dumped him for good. Getty Images for Roc Nation
"I didn't want to be a part of this," Garcia said.
Garcia lawyered up for his next meeting with law enforcement and admitted to taking the bribe.
Sean "Diddy" Combs called the security guard whom he bribed to give him what he believed was the only copy of a video of the rapper beating Cassie Ventura, telling him, "God put you in my life for a reason."
Eddy Garcia, who testified that he accepted $100,000 from Combs in exchange for the surveillance footage, said after their March 7, 2016, deal, Combs called him on Easter.
Eddy Garcia, who testified that he accepted $100,000 from Combs in exchange for the surveillance footage, said after their March 7, 2016, deal, Combs called him on Easter. U.S. Attorneys SDNY
Cassie Ventura in photos entered into evidence at trial, showing injuries she says she suffered at the hand of Diddy during their 11-year relationship. Department of Justice
The photos were shown to the jury when Cassie testified for four days in mid-May. Department of Justice
"He said, 'Happy Easter. You are my angel. God is good. God put you in my life for a reason.' And he asked if anyone had inquired about the video," Garcia told jurors.
Garcia informed the Bad Boy Records founder that he hadn't received any questions.
Combs said "Great" and then told Garcia to keep him posted if he did, Garcia testified.
Damage seen inside the hotel room after the 2016 assault. via REUTERS
After security guard Eddy Garcia was handed $100,000 in cash by Sean "Diddy" Combs to help disappear the infamous video of him beating Cassie Ventura, the hip-hop mogul told him not to make any big purchases with the money.
Garcia said Combs and his bodyguard escorted him out of the the meeting before Combs asked Garcia how he planned to spend the money.
Security guard Eddy Garcia was handed $100,000 in cash by Sean "Diddy" Combs to help disappear the infamous video of him beating Cassie Ventura. U.S. Attorneys SDNY
A "nervous" Garcia said he didn't know how he would spend it, prompting Combs to tell him not to make any large transactions.
Garcia testified that he understood why Combs told him this even though the Bad Boy Records founder didn't explain his statement.
"I got in my vehicle and drove off ... I looked back to see if I was being followed," Garcia said, adding that he didn't appear to be.
Eddy Garcia testified that Combs told him to not make any big purchases with the bribe money. REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg
Garcia gave $50,000 to his boss Bill Medrano, who helped get Combs the video, another $20,000 to another security guard, Henry Lias, and kept $30,000 for himself.
Garcia bought a used car with the cash, he told the jury.
A security guard described the meeting he had with Sean "Diddy" Combs' where he got paid off to help disappear the now-infamous video of the hip-hop mogul beating his girlfriend Cassie Ventura.
Eddy Garcia said he and his boss, Bill Medrano, agreed to take payoffs to get the Bad Boy Records founder the only known copy of the surveillance video from the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles that captured the March 5, 2016, beatdown.
A security guard described the meeting he had with Sean "Diddy" Combs' where he got paid off to help disappear the now-infamous video of the hip-hop mogul beating his girlfriend Cassie Ventura. U.S. Attorneys SDNY
When Garcia spoke with Combs about agreeing to take the bribe, the "I'll Be Missing You" rapper was excited, Garcia testified.
Medrano put a copy of the footage on a USB stick for Garcia and sent the employee to an address for the Combs meeting, assuring him he would cover for the security guard at work.
Garcia said Combs, his chief of staff Kristina Khorram and a bodyguard were all present for the deal at a high-rise building on March 7, 2016.
A giddy Combs greeted Garcia, saying, "Eddy, my angel ... come in."
Garcia "was nervous and my voice kept cracking," he told the jury.
Medrano put a copy of the footage on a USB stick for Garcia and sent the employee to an address for the Combs meeting, assuring him he would cover for the security guard at work. U.S. Attorneys SDNY
Combs asked his assistant to bring Garcia tea. Then they eventually got down to business, with Combs asking if the video on the USB stick was the only copy and who else knew about the incident.
Then Combs called Ventura on FaceTime and handed the phone to Garcia before saying, "She wanted it to go away too," Garcia said.
"She said hi, she said that she had a movie coming out and that it wasn’t a good time for this to be coming out, and she wanted it to go away," Garcia recounted of the conversation with Ventura.
Garcia signed a non-disclosure agreement and another document saying, "I have provided the only copy of the video," according to the document that jurors were shown.
Garcia said he didn't read the document because "I was nervous and wanted to get out of there."
Israel Flores is another security guard who declined the bribe. U.S. Attorneys SDNY
The aftermath of Combs' attacking Ventura in the Los Angeles hotel in 2016. Department of Justice
Then Combs took out a brown paper bag and put money through a money counter, tallying a total of $100,000 that was sorted into stacks of $10,000.
Garcia earlier testified that Medrano agreed to take $50,000 for the video transaction.
"The additional money was for me and what [Combs] thought was for Mr. Flores," Garcia testified.
Israel Flores is another security guard who declined the bribe.
Security guard Eddy Garcia just told jurors that Sean "Diddy" Combs promised him "he would take care of me" if the guard helped him get ahold of the now-infamous surveillance video of the hip-hop mogul beating girlfriend Cassie Ventura.
Garcia -- who worked in private security at the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles -- said that after Combs notoriously beat Ventura on March 5, 2016, Garcia was hounded by the Bad Boy Records founder and his chief of staff Kristina Khorram to help them make the video go away.
Sean "Diddy" Combs watches at hotel security guard Eddy Garcia testifies on June 3, 2025. REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg
Eddy Garcia told jurors that Sean "Diddy" Combs promised him "he would take care of me" if the guard helped him get ahold of the now-infamous surveillance video of the hip-hop mogul beating girlfriend Cassie Ventura. U.S. Attorneys SDNY
During one call with Combs, he "sounded very nervous. He was talking fast. He said he had a little too much to drink, said one thing led to another."
On another call, Combs told Garcia, "I sounded like a good guy. That I wanted to help ... he said something like this could ruin him. He was concerned that this video could get out and that it could ruin his career."
"He said he would take care of me," Garcia said of that call.
A security guard who was working at the hotel where Sean "Diddy" Combs was infamously caught on video beating his girlfriend Cassie Ventura has started testifying.
Eddy Garcia was working for private security company Securitas at the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles when he was told about a "domestic dispute" involving the hip-hop mogul on March 5, 2016.
Garcia is testifying under an immunity deal, meaning he won't be prosecuted for his testimony even if it is incriminating.
A woman was escorted out of the courtroom at Sean "Diddy" Combs' bombshell trial just before testimony was set to kick off Tuesday morning after she went on a profane rant.
A woman was escorted out of the courtroom at Sean "Diddy" Combs' bombshell trial just before testimony was set to kick off Tuesday morning after she went on a profane rant. REUTERS
She railed against the "system" before court marshals told her "don't do it again" and then led her out. REUTERS
"Diddy, these motherf--kers are laughing at you!" the woman screamed.
She also railed against the "system" before court marshals told her "Don't do it again" and then led her out.
The jury was not present for the outburst.
The Bad Boy Records founder, wearing a brown sweater over a white button-down shirt, turned around and was looking at her while she yelled.
