FILE PHOTO: Sean "P Diddy" Combs arrives for the screening of the film "Two Lovers" at the 61st Cannes Film Festival May 19, 2008. © REUTERS/Eric Gaillard/File Photo
(Washington, DC) – It’s fake news! At least, according to the Trump Administration. The White House is flatly denying a report from TMZ that suggested President Trump could look to pardon convicted hip hop artist and entertainment mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs. Trump Administration officials in fact said TMZ had fabricated the story, which said the move could come by the end of the week.
In a statement, the Trump team said: “There is zero truth to the TMZ report, which we would’ve gladly explained had they reached out before running their fake news. The President, not anonymous sources, is the final decider on pardons and commutations.”
This all follows Trump’s recent decision to commute George Santos’ sentence. Santos, a former congressman for Long Island, was convicted of fraud and other offenses. But Trump strongly implied Santos faced a “double standard” in sentencing, noting Democratic members of the US Senate have been credibly accused of worse lies in the past.
As for “Diddy” — he was found guilty of engaging in prostitution, and he’s also been accused of assault. Although he was not charged in that incident, surveillance camera footage appeared to show Combs attacking his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura — years ago at a hotel in Los Angeles.
Monday’s report from TMZ had references “sources” including a “high-ranking White House official” and the potential for a Diddy commutation. On October 6, while dismissing a question concerning a pardon for convicted sex offender Ghislaine Maxwell, Trump addressed Combs’ situation. “I have a lot of people who have asked me for pardons,” Trump explained, adding: “I call him Puff Daddy has asked me.”
Combs has never publicly been a supporter of Trump, saying in a video before the 2021 election: “White men like Trump need to be banished… We are in a war of love versus hate. The number one priority is to get Trump out of office.” Rapper Lil Wayne did receive a pardon in a gun possession case from Trump, during the closing days of his first White House term, as the musician — born Dwayne Michael Carter Jr. — noted he appreciated the Republican president’s campaign platform when it came to black voters.
