In an explosive turn of events in Diddy‘s sex trafficking trial, the first witness called to the stand, Israel Florez, the assistant director of security at the InterContinental Los Angeles Century City hotel, testified about a tense and troubling encounter involving Diddy and his former girlfriend, Cassie, in 2016. According to Florez, Diddy allegedly offered him a stack of money in exchange for his silence regarding an incident that occurred in a hotel room that year.
Security Guard Describes Disturbing Scene
Florez testified that he received a report of a woman in distress on the 6th floor around 11 AM. Upon reviewing the surveillance cameras, he saw Diddy pacing back and forth in the hallway. Florez rushed to the scene, where he encountered Diddy in a towel and Cassie on the floor. The security officer testified that he asked the couple to move back to their room if they were arguing and noticed a broken vase on the floor.
Florez recounted that Cassie requested her phone and bag, expressing a desire to leave, but Diddy allegedly told her she couldn’t.
Bribe Allegation and Missing Surveillance Footage
According to Florez, later in the encounter, Diddy reportedly called for him and, holding a stack of money, allegedly asked him not to tell anyone about what had transpired. Florez testified that he refused the money, emphasizing that the damage to the vase would still be charged to the room.
Florez also stated that he took photos of the broken vase for an incident report and recorded two videos of the surveillance footage with his phone, intending to show them to his wife. However, when he returned to work two days later, Florez claimed the footage was mysteriously gone and that he never saw it again until recently.
Cross-Examination and Missing Details in Report
On cross-examination, Diddy’s attorney, Brian Steel, questioned Florez about his decision not to call law enforcement or include certain details in his report, such as Diddy allegedly preventing Cassie from leaving. Florez explained that he did not include every detail in his initial report and defended his actions as consistent with hotel protocol.
Testimony Continues as Prosecution Introduces Second Witness
Florez’s testimony adds more complexity to the case, with the prosecution now preparing to call their second witness to the stand. The details surrounding this alleged incident continue to unfold, adding fuel to the fire in the ongoing trial.
