****

Sean "Diddy" Combs, a prominent figure in the hip-hop industry, is under intense scrutiny following allegations of a brutal attack on his longtime girlfriend, Cassie, in March 2016. The shocking incident, which took place in a Los Angeles hotel hallway, is now a centerpiece in a federal case accusing Combs of sex trafficking and racketeering.

Eddy Garcia, a former security guard at the Intercontinental Hotel, provided crucial testimony at Combs' trial in Manhattan. Garcia recounted how the music mogul approached him soon after the assault, visibly fearful that surveillance footage of the brutal beating would spell the end of his career. In a bid to secure the video, Combs allegedly handed Garcia a brown paper bag containing $100,000 in cash.

Prosecutors are leveraging the disturbing footage of Combs kicking, beating, and dragging Cassie to substantiate the claims of three women, including Cassie herself, who allege they were physically and sexually abused by the Bad Boy Records founder over the span of two decades. They argue that Combs consistently used his wealth and influence to silence those he victimized.

Combs, 55, has entered a plea of not guilty to the charges. However, Garcia's testimony paints a damning picture. He detailed multiple conversations with Combs and his chief-of-staff, Kristina Khorram, during which Combs expressed desperation to keep the footage from public view. Garcia recalled Combs’ frantic and nervous state, reiterating his fear that the release of the footage would lead to his ruination.

After negotiating the sale of the video for $50,000 with his boss, Garcia delivered the footage to Combs who euphorically referred to him as "Eddy my angel." Following the exchange, Garcia was obliged to sign a confidentiality agreement, promising a hefty penalty of $1 million for any breach. At the time, Garcia earned just $10.50 an hour in his security role.

Despite the measures taken to suppress the video, another hotel guard later revealed that he recorded the footage on his phone, subsequently leading to its release by CNN last year. This revelation has only intensified the spotlight on Combs and the gravity of the allegations against him.