Pardon for Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs? Trump unlikely to pardon the sex offender: “When I ran for office, he was very hostile”
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is unlikely to get a presidential pardon after recent comments from the leader of the US.
Sean “Diddy” Combs—the disgraced rapper recently convicted on two counts of transportation for prostitution—has reportedly made a bold bid for freedom.
According to attorney Nicole Westmoreland, a member of his defence team, Combs’ representatives have initiated conversations with the Trump administration regarding a potential presidential pardon.
Prosecutors claimed that Combs was at the epicentre of a criminal operation involving members of his inner circle. They alleged the group used intimidation, violence, coerced labor, bribery, and various illegal tactics to force Casandra “Cassie” Ventura and another woman, identified only as “Jane,” to participate in drug-driven sexual encounters with male escorts.
Combs was found guilty on July 2, 2025, by a Manhattan federal jury, for transporting individuals across state lines to participate in prostitution. Though more severe charges, including sex trafficking and racketeering, did not result in convictions: the two prostitution-related charges carrying up to 20 years in prison.
A $50 million bail has repeatedly been denied by Judge Arun Subramanian, and sentencing is scheduled for October 3, 2025.
Before that date, Westmoreland told CNN that they have reached out to the Trump administration for a presidential pardon. “It’s my understanding that we’ve reached out and had conversations in reference to a pardon,” she said.
However, despite Trump having previously described himself as friendly with Combs, the President has expressed skepticism about granting the pardon. During a recent Newsmax interview, Trump said: “I was very friendly with him. I got along with him great, and he seemed like a nice guy. I didn’t know him well. But when I ran for office, he was very hostile.”
“And it’s hard, you know? I’m like you; we’re human beings, right? And we don’t like to have things cloud our judgment,” he continued. “But 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’s more difficult. It makes it more — I’m being honest — it makes it more difficult to do.”
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Trump quotes are as reliable as Jesus asking Judas for directions, so take it with a pinch of salt. For now, things seem bleak for the guilty sex trafficker, but when has a serious crime ever stopped powerful people from getting their way?
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