U.S. President Donald Trump has confirmed that hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs personally reached out to him seeking a presidential pardon following his conviction on prostitution-related charges.
Speaking on Monday, Trump said several public figures have contacted him with similar requests.
“A lot of people have asked me for pardons,” he told reporters in the Oval office. “I call him Puff Daddy. He has asked me for a pardon. We’ll take a look.”
Trump’s revelation came as he fielded broader questions about potential clemency decisions, including whether he might consider pardoning Ghislaine Maxwell, whose appeal on sex trafficking convictions was recently denied by the Supreme Court.
Trump said he would “take a look” at both cases and consult the Justice Department before making any decisions.
The acknowledgment of Diddy’s request has sparked political and public debate.
His conviction, which followed a highly publicized trial, marked a dramatic fall for the Grammy-winning producer, who once dominated the entertainment industry with his Bad Boy Records empire.
Diddy was handed a four-year, two-month prison sentence after a New York court found him guilty of transporting women to engage in prostitution.
The 55-year-old rapper, entrepreneur, and music executive was also slapped with a fine of Sh65 million (USD 500,000).
He will, however, receive credit for the approximately 12 months he has already spent in custody at a Brooklyn detention center.
His legal team is now preparing an appeal, arguing that the sentence was excessive and influenced by unproven claims that were not part of the jury’s verdict.
The verdict came three months after Diddy dramatically collapsed to his knees in the same Manhattan courtroom when a jury cleared him of the more severe charges of sex trafficking and racketeering, offences that could have seen him jailed for life.
According to CNN, Lead attorney Teny Geragos said the defense remains confident the decision will be overturned.
“The jury made it clear, ‘not guilty’ means not guilty,” she stated after the ruling.
In court filings, Diddy’s lawyers requested that he serve his time at FCI Fort Dix in New Jersey, citing the facility’s rehabilitation programs and the convenience of family visitation.
During sentencing, Diddy addressed the court, expressing remorse and acknowledging his struggles with substance abuse.
“I’ve lost my reputation, my businesses, and my self-respect,” he said, adding, “I accept responsibility for my mistakes and want to focus on rebuilding.”