President Donald Trump has shared an update on where he stands with Sean “Diddy” Combs’ criminal conviction.
In a two-hour sit-down with New York Times reporters on Jan. 7, the 79-year-old was given the names of several high-profile people who are imprisoned, including the 56-year-old music mogul, and asked whether he would consider pardons for them.
Though Combs allegedly wrote Trump a letter seeking clemency, Trump confirmed he is not considering granting Combs’ request.
After he told reporters that Combs “asked me for a pardon… through a letter,” the president was asked when the alleged communication was sent. Trump said, “Oh, would you like to see that letter?” but did not bring it forth.
Trump previously revealed to reporters in the Oval Office on Oct. 6 that the Bad Boy Records founder, who is appealing both his sentence and conviction as he serves a 50-month prison sentence in New Jersey, had asked for a pardon.
It is unclear whether Combs sent the president any new communication since Trump’s October comments.
In an Oct. 21 statement to USA TODAY, a White House spokesperson said there is “zero truth” to a report that the president was deliberating commuting Combs’ sentence.
“The president, not anonymous sources, is the final decider on pardons and commutations,” the official added.
Trump opened up in a previous interview about having a soured relationship with the embattled rapper, telling Newsmax host Rob Finnerty in an Aug. 1 interview that Combs’ “hostile” comments during Trump’s first presidential term made it “more difficult” to consider a pardon.
“Well, he was essentially, I guess sort of, half-innocent. I don’t know what they do, he’s still in jail or something,” Trump said. “He was celebrating a victory, but I guess it wasn’t as good of a victory.”
During the interview, Trump said “probably…” before pausing and revealing to Finnerty, “You know, I was very friendly with him. I got along with him great; seemed like a nice guy. I didn’t know him well, but when I ran for office he was very hostile.”
When Finnerty clarified by asking if it was “more likely a no for (pardoning) Combs,” Trump replied, “I’d say so.”
On July 2, following a nearly two-month trial, a 12-person jury delivered a bombshell split decision. They found Combs guilty of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution – charges related to former girlfriends Casandra “Cassie” Ventura Fine and “Jane,” who both testified. However, he was acquitted of the most serious charges, which were racketeering and two counts of sex trafficking.
