As Sean “Diddy” Combs faces a looming federal sentencing in October, former President Donald Trump is reportedly “seriously considering” issuing a presidential pardon to the embattled music mogul, according to AllHipHop.
Diddy’s federal trial concluded earlier this month, ending a two-month legal battle that saw him acquitted on charges of sex trafficking and racketeering. However, he was found guilty on two counts of transportation for prostitution; charges that carry a maximum of 10 years each. Federal prosecutors are expected to recommend a sentence ranging between 51 and 63 months, per CBS News.
Supporters of the Bad Boy founder have been lobbying for clemency, and sources now say Trump and his legal team are treating the matter as an “actionable event.” The move has sparked widespread speculation, with critics suggesting the potential pardon may be a political tactic by Trump to rally support among Black voters or distract from his own mounting legal troubles, including his alleged connections to Jeffrey Epstein. No official decision has been made as of yet.
The news of Trump’s potential intervention arrives shortly after Diddy’s legal team filed a motion proposing a $50 million bail package. The terms include surrendering his passport and restricting travel to his Miami residence, with exceptions only for legal consultations in New York.
In their petition, Diddy’s attorneys argue that the charges stem from consensual relationships and alternative lifestyles, not criminal behavior. “This was a lifestyle—one that both Ms. Ventura and Jane chose,” the motion states. “Like many aspects of sex and intimacy, it was not without its complications… but that is a hallmark of any serious romantic relationship.”
With sentencing scheduled for the fall, and mounting legal and public pressure on all sides, the next few months could determine whether one of hip hop’s most polarizing figures walks free or heads to federal prison.