Donald Trump has discussed the possibility of pardoning Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs amid the disgraced rapper’s ongoing federal trial on charges of sex trafficking and racketeering.
The president floated the idea during a recent press conference in the Oval Office, saying (per Rolling Stone) he would “certainly look at the facts” before issuing Combs, who is facing life in prison, a full presidential pardon.
“Nobody’s asked,” Trump said of a potential pardon, adding that “some people have been very close to asking”.
“People are thinking about it.”
The president went on to say that he would “look at what’s happening” in the Combs case before granting clemency, claiming he hasn’t “been watching [the case] too closely” despite it “getting a lot of coverage”.
Later, Trump reflected on his own relationship with Combs, after having described the rapper as a “good friend” in a 2012 episode of the his reality series, The Apprentice.
The president said he hasn’t spoken to Combs “in years”, claiming the rapper “used to really like me a lot” before Trump entered politics.
“I think when I ran for politics … that relationship busted up, from what I read. I’d read some little bit nasty statements,” Trump said.
Still, the Donald Trump said his personal relationship with Combs would not impact his decision around a pardon.
“If somebody was mistreated, whether they like me or don’t like me, it wouldn’t have any impact on me.”
The comments come amid a recent clemency spree launched by the president, which has this week seen him issue pardons to fellow rappers like Kodak Black, Lil Wayne and NBA YoungBoy.
Combs’ federal trial began in mid-April in New York, and has included testimonies from the rapper’s former partner Cassie Ventura and reactions from husband, Alex Fine.
Elsewhere, the trial has unearthed new revelations around Combs’ alleged hosting of sex parties known as freak-offs, with reports claiming people were paid to wear ‘Free Diddy’ shirts outside of the courthouse.
The third week of the trial has wrapped up, and Combs has pleaded not guilty to charges of sex trafficking, transportation to engage in prostitution and racketeering.
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