Hotel security officer testifies Diddy paid $100K to suppress assault video
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Much of today's testimony was spent revisiting Diddy's March 2016 assault on Casandra Ventura, an incident at the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles that was captured on security video and shown to jurors at the start of his trial. Eddy Garcia, the hotel's security supervisor, testified that Diddy and his team desperately wanted to get the sole copy of the video and prevent it from getting out. In exchange for $100,000 divided among members of the hotel's security team, Garcia said, he signed a nondisclosure agreement that called for his silence and the destruction of evidence.
Here's what else to know about today's testimony:
Garcia testified that he was so 'nervous' about the NDA that he didn't read it all before he signed it. Diddy presented stacks of cash in a brown paper bag, added Garcia, who said he bought a used car with his $30,000 share.
Garcia also said he wasn't initially truthful to police when he was asked about the assault. On cross-examination, the defense pointed out the NDA didn't stop Garcia from speaking about it in legal proceedings, a line of questioning presumably intended to undermine the government's potential claim of obstruction of justice.
After Garcia, Derek Ferguson, the former chief financial officer of Bad Boy Entertainment, took the stand to discuss the structure of Diddy's businesses and how money flowed.
🔎 The view from inside
By Adam Reiss and Jing Feng
For the first time during the trial, a spectator disrupted the courtroom decorum, prompting U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian to order court marshals to 'escort her out right now.'
The uproar began before the jury was seated and Garcia took the stand. At first, both prosecutors and the defense team were discussing with Subramanian exhibits in the trial and whether to offer evidence of Diddy's jail calls. Prosecutors also complained to Subramanian that a person who had been in the courtroom Monday broadcast on YouTube the real identity of a government witness, who went by the pseudonym 'Mia' when she testified.
Suddenly, a woman in the courtroom began shouting in defense of Diddy, including that 'it's not right what they're doing to him' and 'Diddy's innocent.' She was quickly removed.
Prosecutors later told Subramanian that the true name and identity of 'Mia' were being reported and asked for him to ban the outlet that made them public from the court. He said he would consider such a court order.
Tomorrow: Frank Piazza, a forensic video expert, and Bryana Bangolan, who alleges that Diddy dangled her over an apartment balcony, may testify.
PSA: Every night during Diddy's trial, NBC's 'Dateline' will drop special episodes of the 'True Crime Weekly' podcast to get you up to speed. 'Dateline' correspondent Andrea Canning chats with NBC News' Chloe Melas and special guests — right in front of the courthouse. Listen here. 🎧
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