Sean “Diddy” Combs’ legal team has confirmed they’ve contacted the Trump administration to discuss a possible presidential pardon following the rapper’s recent conviction.
Nicole Westmoreland, a key member of Combs’ legal team, told CNN, “It’s my understanding that we’ve reached out and had conversations in reference to a pardon.”
Trump Unlikely to Approve Pardon
Despite the outreach, former U.S. President Donald Trump has shown little support for granting a pardon. In a recent interview with Newsmax, Trump said, “I was very friendly with him, I got along with him great and he seemed like a nice guy. I didn’t know him well. But when I ran for office, he was very hostile.”
While Trump’s response wasn’t hopeful, Westmoreland noted that Combs is staying optimistic. “He is a very hopeful person, and I believe that he remains hopeful,” she added.
Legal Team Criticizes Prosecution
Westmoreland also sharply criticized the U.S. government for pursuing the case. She said the case should never have gone to trial in the first place, and blamed prosecutors for dragging it forward unnecessarily.
“The government knew that there was no way Combs committed sex trafficking or RICO and they just continued prosecuting anyway,” she said. “I think the jury saw through it.”
Conviction and Ongoing Detention
Diddy has been behind bars since his arrest in September 2024. Last month, a jury cleared him of the most serious charges racketeering and sex trafficking — but found him guilty on two counts related to the transportation for prostitution.
Judge Arun Subramanian rejected Combs’ $50 million bond request earlier this week, ruling that he had not proven he was safe to release.
The judge also said Combs failed to show any “exceptional circumstance” that would justify his release while awaiting sentencing.
What’s Next: Sentencing and Prison Time
The conviction could lead to up to 10 years in federal prison, though sentencing will depend on federal guidelines that both sides interpret differently.
Judge Subramanian wrote that Diddy’s legal argument “might have traction in a case that didn’t involve evidence of violence, coercion or subjugation in connection with the acts of prostitution at issue, but the record here contains evidence of all three.”
Allegations of Abuse During Trial
During the trial, four women testified that Combs either physically assaulted or sexually abused them, adding serious weight to the prosecution’s case.
