Trump: Diddy’s Legal Battle Not Over—Could See Pardon

Donald Trump is yet again in the news for possibly getting involved with the case of hip-hop music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs. In an interview with Newsmax’s Finnerty on Friday, August 1, Trump was asked by the anchor Joe Finnerty if he would consider granting the late former president a presidential pardon for his upcoming prison sentence.

Earlier this month, Combs was found guilty by a federal jury on one of six counts. The one crime for which he was found guilty was transportation with intent to engage in prostitution. The founder of Bad Boy Records was cleared of several more serious charges, including sex trafficking and racketeering. The trial, which lasted over seven weeks, brought forth allegations from a number of witnesses. Singer Cassie Ventura came forward, accusing the Combs of abusing and trafficking her when they were in a relationship years ago. Combs denied the claims and has continued to maintain his innocence throughout the case.

When asked by Finnerty, Trump gave a noncommittal response that seems to indicate he is willing to look into the situation more. “Well, he was essentially, I guess, sort of half-innocent,” Trump said on Finnerty on Friday. “He’s still in jail or something, but he was celebrating a victory. But I guess it wasn’t as good a victory.”

The former president also noted how the two were friends before he was in the political sphere. “We were very friendly. I got along with him great,” Trump noted. “He used to like me a lot. I think when I ran for politics, that relationship busted up. … I would certainly look at the facts. If I think somebody was mistreated, whether they like me or don’t like me, it wouldn’t have any impact on me.”

Comments On Diddy, Trump Says ‘I Got Along With Him Great’

This is not the first time that Trump has responded to the idea of pardoning Combs. In May, while in the Oval Office press briefing room, he was asked by Fox News reporter Peter Doocy if he would be considering pardoning Sean “Diddy” Combs. At the time, Trump said he would be willing to “look at the facts” of the case to make a judgment. The former president, however, was emphatic in making it clear that he would not allow his personal feelings to play a factor in his decision.

“I haven’t spoken to him in years,” Trump responded. “If I think somebody was mistreated, whether they like me or don’t like me, it wouldn’t have any impact on me.”

The Combs case is still going forward, as the verdict has only been reached recently. The founder of Bad Boy Records was found guilty on one of six charges related to his alleged activities in the criminal case. The charge for which he was found guilty is transportation with intent to engage in prostitution. While it is still a significant crime, it is not as bad as some of the others, including sex trafficking and racketeering, with which he was charged. Combs now faces up to 20 years in prison as a result of the case. As of now, the rapper’s sentencing is expected to be in October, on October 3.

The trial, which took place for over seven weeks, has once again caused major buzz in the political world. The case is interesting because of the high-profile people involved in the trial, including Sean “Diddy” Combs himself. But the case has also drawn interest because of what Trump is saying about the case. The former president has been vocal in saying that he would consider pardoning Combs if the trial had played out in a different way.

“He was celebrating a victory,” Trump continued during the Finnerty on Friday show. “But I guess it wasn’t as good a victory.”

A clip of the full comments by Donald Trump on the Finnerty segment has been shared on X (previously Twitter). People are now reacting to the former president’s comments on the Sean “Diddy” Combs case. It is unclear at the moment if Trump will be doing a presidential pardon or not. At this point, it is just more political fuel for discussion until Combs’ sentencing on October 3.