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The White House has responded to claims that Donald Trump is considering commuting Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ prison sentence.
Music mogul Combs was handed a four-year prison sentence after being convicted of two counts of prostitution-related charges earlier this year.
He was acquitted on charges of sex trafficking and racketeering after an eight-week trial in July.
- The White House has responded to claims that Donald Trump is considering pardoning Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs.’
- Diddy was sentenced to 50 months for prostitution-related charges.
- Diddy's legal team filed an appeal challenging the application of the Mann Act in his conviction.
- Despite past cordial relations, Trump said their relationship soured after Diddy supported Joe Biden in 2020.
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs was convicted of prostitution-related charges
Image credits: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
On Monday, TMZ reported that a senior White House official had told the publication that Trump was “vacillating” on a commutation.
The outlet noted that some staffers had urged Trump not to intervene, but reported that Diddy could be freed from prison as early as next week.
“Trump will do what he wants,” an official told TMZ.
The report came on the same day that Combs’ legal team announced its intention to appeal his sentence.
Attorney Alexandra Shapiro filed a notice of appeal in the Federal District Court of New York on Monday.
The White House has now responded to claims that Trump will intervene, describing them as fake news.
Image credits: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
“There is zero truth to the TMZ report, which we would’ve gladly explained had they reached out before running their fake news,” a spokesperson told the Daily Mail.
“The president, not anonymous sources, is the final decider on pardons and commutations.”
Trump has previously discussed commuting Combs’ sentence with the media, telling reporters in the Oval Office earlier this month that the rapper had requested a pardon.
“A lot of people have asked me for pardons,” Trump said. “I call him Puff Daddy—he has asked me for a pardon.”
However, Trump conceded that he probably wouldn’t intervene and previously said it was “more likely a no.”
In August, the president told Newsmax that Combs was essentially half-innocent but noted their relationship soured when Combs backed Joe Biden in 2020.
Combs angered Trump by backing Biden in 2020
Image credits: Scott Olson/Getty Images
“Well, he was essentially, sort of, half-innocent. I don’t know what they do that he’s still in jail or something. He was celebrating a victory, but I guess it wasn’t as good a victory,” Trump said.
“You know, I was very friendly with him. I got along with him great; [he] seemed like a nice guy. I didn’t know him well, but when I ran for office he was very hostile,” Trump added.
In May, Trump told reporters he would consider a pardon, saying, “I’d look at what’s happening … He used to really like me a lot.”
Combs remains in custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, and he was credited for 13 months already served during his sentencing.
Ahead of being handed a 50-month prison term, Combs wrote a letter to the judge overseeing his case apologizing for his actions.
Image credits: Samir Hussein/Getty Images for Sean Diddy Combs
“In my life, I have made many mistakes, but I am no longer running from them,” Combs wrote.
“I am so sorry for the hurt that I caused, but I understand that the mere words ‘I’m sorry’ will never be good enough as these words alone cannot erase the pain from the past.”
While his legal team has not detailed the basis for his appeal, filed Monday, it previously argued in court filings that his convictions should not stand.
Attorneys for Combs allege that the convictions misapplied the law Combs was charged under—the Mann Act—and say he did not coerce anyone or profit from illegal activity.
They claim the Mann Act charges go beyond what the statute was meant to cover and point to the jury’s decision to clear him of trafficking and racketeering as proof the government failed to show any broader criminal scheme.
Further filings in the appeal are expected to be submitted in the coming weeks.
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