Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is reportedly seeking a presidential pardon from former U.S. President Donald Trump as he awaits sentencing after being found guilty of two counts of transporting individuals to engage in prostitution.
The 55-year-old music mogul, currently behind bars, is hoping to avoid a lengthy prison term by appealing to the Trump administration. His legal representative, Nicole Westmoreland, confirmed to CNN that Combs’ team has made contact regarding clemency.
“It’s my understanding that we’ve reached out and had conversations in reference to a pardon,” she said.
Despite the seriousness of the charges, the Bad Boy Records founder remains optimistic.
“[Combs] is a very hopeful person and I believe that he remains hopeful,” Westmoreland added.
While the White House has declined to confirm whether a clemency request exists, Trump himself has commented on the situation, expressing hesitation due to past tensions with Diddy. Speaking to Newsmax, Trump reflected on their former relationship, admitting the rapper had been hostile towards him when he ran for office.
“It’s hard… when you knew someone and you were fine, and then you run for office, and he made some terrible statements. So I don’t know… it makes it more difficult to do.”
In earlier remarks, however, Trump emphasized he wouldn’t let personal opinions cloud his judgment.
“If I think somebody is mistreated, whether they like me or don’t like me, it wouldn’t have any impact on me.”
Once considered friendly with Trump, Diddy famously turned on the former president during the 2020 election, accusing him of endangering Black lives and calling for his political “banishment.”
“White men like Trump need to be banished,” Diddy said in an interview with Charlamagne tha God. “That way of thinking is real dangerous.”
Although acquitted on more serious charges like sex trafficking and racketeering, Diddy still faces up to 20 years in prison, with sentencing set for October 6. Whether a presidential pardon will come through remains to be seen, but the once-smooth relationship between the two now faces a politically charged test of forgiveness.
