Diddy's legal representatives petition for a presidential pardon from Trump, aimed at preempting the rapper's sentencing
Sean "Diddy" Combs, the renowned music mogul, has not received a pardon from President Donald Trump for a prostitution-related offense. Despite reports of his legal team reaching out to the Trump administration for a potential pardon in 2025, former President Trump indicated the decision was "difficult" due to a personal falling out, making a pardon unlikely.
On September 15, Combs was arrested and has been behind bars since then, with his sentencing scheduled for October 3. The musician was convicted on two counts of a prostitution-related offence, but was found not guilty of racketeering and sex trafficking in a split verdict.
Judge Arun Subramanian has expressed concerns about conditions at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, where Combs is currently being held. His legal team, led by Marc Agnifilo, has argued that the conditions are "dangerous" and that Combs "should not be in jail for this conduct."
The judge has written that the record contains evidence of violence, coercion, and subjugation in connection with the acts of prostitution at issue. Combs faced federal charges of coercing girlfriends into having drug-fuelled sex marathons with male sex workers while he watched and filmed them.
The judge's sentencing ruling also noted Combs' violent history during the trial. Combs' conviction carries the potential for up to 10 years in prison.
Despite the ongoing legal proceedings, Combs' legal team has reportedly reached out to U.S. President Donald Trump seeking a pardon. Nicole Westmoreland, a member of Combs' defence team, told CNN that Combs is hopeful about the request.
However, the White House has declined to comment on any clemency request related to Diddy. There are complicated federal guidelines for calculating sentences in Combs' case, and prosecutors and Combs' lawyers disagree substantially on how the guidelines come out for his case.
As of August 2025, no official pardon has been granted to Sean "Diddy" Combs. The music industry and fans around the world will be eagerly awaiting the outcome of his sentencing on October 3.
[1] NBC News. (2025). Trump 'difficult' on Diddy pardon request, lawyer says. Retrieved from https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/trump-difficult-diddy-pardon-request-lawyer-says-n1276721
[2] CNN. (2025). Combs' lawyer reaches out to Trump for pardon. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/01/entertainment/diddy-pardon-trump/index.html
- The music industry and general-news outlets, such as NBC News and CNN, have reported on Sean "Diddy" Combs' legal team reaching out to President Donald Trump for a potential pardon, with Combs himself expressing hope for a pardon, but the White House has declined to comment on any clemency request related to him.
- Despite facing federal charges for coercing girlfriends into involving in drug-fueled sex marathons with male sex workers, celebrities like Combs are frequently covered in entertainment news, but his conviction on two counts of prostitution-related offenses has also been linked to crime-and-justice reports, as seen in the violence, coercion, and subjugation cited by Judge Arun Subramanian in his sentencing ruling.
