A former hotel security guard alleges that, although he denied it, Diddy, 55, tried to bribe him with a “stack of cash” to keep him quiet after assaulting Cassie, 38.
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On Monday (May 12), testimony in Diddy’s federal sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy case began. Taking the stand, Officer Israel Florez — who was a security guard at the former InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles back in March 2016 — alleged that Diddy, born Sean Combs, offered him a “stack of cash” as a bribe after his assault on Cassie.
Questioning Florez, the prosecution’s first witness, was Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik. Recalling the incident, Florez testified that he got a call saying there was “a woman in distress.” He said that he stepped out of the elevator and saw Diddy and Cassie in the elevator lobby. He said Diddy was sitting in a towel and socks and had a “devilish stare.”
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Former Hotel Security Guard Alleges Cassie Had ‘Purple Eye’ After Diddy Assault, Mogul Allegedly Offered Bribe
He said that he then escorted the two back to their hotel room. Once there, he alleged that Diddy approached him in the hotel room with a “wad of cash” that he assumed to be as a bribe to keep quiet. Florez said he declined the monetary offer. He claimed he saw Cassie with a “purple eye.” He said he asked her if she wanted him to call the cops, but she repeatedly said that she just wanted to leave. She eventually left the room and hotel.
Florez said he did end up filing a report on the incident the same day. In it, he detailed the incident “from start to finish,” including Diddy and Cassie’s names and photos. He also admitted that he did not call the police because “there was no victim there, obviously nobody was pressing charges.”
During his testimony, the jury was shown the viral hotel surveillance footage from the assault between Diddy and Cassie. Additional video showed Florez escorting Diddy back to his room and Cassie walking down the hall after them. The jury also saw footage that Florez took on his cell phone at the time.
During cross-examination, Diddy’s defense attorney Brian Steel asked Florez about his testimony. Specifically, he wanted to know about his alleged “devilish” look on his face after the assault on Cassie. Steel said he felt it wasn’t relevant.
Attempting to explain the wad of cash bribe claim, Steel noted that Florez told Diddy he would have to pay for the hotel damages. Steel again asked Florez about the claim and if he believed Diddy was indeed offering him a bribe. He said, “Definitely.”
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