President Donald Trump is said to be mulling a surprising pardon for Sean “Diddy” Combs, a move that’s raising eyebrows, as Deadline reports. The hip-hop mogul, convicted in a high-profile sex-trafficking case, faces sentencing in October. This consideration reeks of political theater, but it is grounded in decades of personal ties.
Combs was found guilty on some of the charges against him on July 2 after an eight-week trial in New York City, with sentencing set for Oct. 3 in the courtroom of Judge Arun Subramanian, while Trump’s pardon deliberations, sparked by Combs’ associates, have intensified recently. Trump, who called Combs a “good friend” in 2012, discussed the possibility publicly on May 30 during an Oval Office gaggle. His base, however, remains distracted by the Justice Department’s stonewalling on Epstein files, muddying the narrative.
The trial, which started on May 12, saw lurid testimony from ex-girlfriends, staffers, and escorts about Combs’ drug-fueled “freak off” sessions. A federal jury convicted him of transportation for prostitution but cleared him of sex trafficking and racketeering. The verdict’s split nature fuels the pardon talk, as some see it as a woke overreach by prosecutors.
Trump and Combs go way back, mingling in Manhattan’s glitzy 1990s party scene. Trump’s 2012 praise of Combs as a “good guy” on The Apprentice contrasts with Combs’ later endorsement of then-candidate Joe Biden in 2020. That flip-flop hasn’t stopped Combs’ allies from lobbying the White House hard.
An administration source says a pardon is “seriously considered,” a far cry from casual chatter. Combs’ associates have turned this into an “actionable event,” per insiders, though his defense team stays mum with a curt “no comment.” The White House, predictably, dodges questions, refusing to confirm any clemency request.
Combs has been stuck in Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center since his September 2024 arrest. Repeated $50 million bond requests, including one made this week, have been shot down by Judge Subramanian. The defense’s latest plea for release before sentencing hit a July 30 deadline, but don’t hold your breath for a prosecution-defense love fest.
The prosecution, gunning for the maximum sentence, wants Combs locked up for two to three years, including time served. Combs’ 10-attorney team, led by Marc Agnifilo and Teny Geragos, plans an immediate appeal in the wake of sentencing. Their silence on the pardon suggests they’re banking on legal maneuvers, not political favors.
Trial testimony painted a grim picture: ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, pregnant during the trial, and others described violent, drug-laced escapades. The jury’s mixed verdict -- guilty on prostitution transport but not trafficking -- hints at prosecutorial overreach. Yet, the woke legal machine keeps grinding, with lead prosecutor Maurene Comey fired from SDNY on July 18.
Comey’s exit, after her cryptic “fear is the tool of a tyrant” quip, adds intrigue. Was she ousted for pushing too hard, or was it just bureaucratic housecleaning? Either way, it’s a win for those tired of activist prosecutors.
Trump’s pardon musings come as his MAGA base demands Jeffrey Epstein file transparency, a promise still unfulfilled. His $10 billion lawsuit against Rupert Murdoch, filed after a July 18, Wall Street Journal piece tied him to Epstein, shows he’s playing hardball. A Combs pardon could be a strategic distraction -- or a genuine favor for an old pal.
Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, no fan of Combs', vowed on May 31 to lobby Trump against clemency. “I’m gonna reach out so he knows how I feel about this guy,” Jackson said, throwing shade on Combs’ character. His opposition adds a layer of celebrity drama to an already messy saga.
Trump’s May 30 claim that “no one has asked” for a Combs pardon feels like classic misdirection. “I know people are thinking about it,” he added, winking at the buzz. This is Trump at his showman best, keeping everyone guessing.
Combs’ associates, not his legal team, are driving the pardon push, sensing a window before sentencing. The White House’s tight-lipped stance -- “no comment on clemency requests” -- only fuels speculation. If Trump acts, it’ll be less about justice and more about flexing executive muscle.
The defense’s latest bond pitch, offering travel and contact restrictions, shows desperation. Judge Subramanian’s July 30 deadline for a release package won’t likely see prosecutors and defense holding hands. Combs remains behind bars, his fate hinging on Trump’s next move.
Trump’s “look at the facts” promise from May 30 suggests he’s weighing Combs’ case against a backdrop of personal loyalty and political optics. A pardon would inflame the anti-woke crowd, who see Combs’ conviction as a product of overzealous, progressive prosecutors. But with sentencing looming, the clock’s ticking on this high-stakes gamble.
