Is a presidential pardon on the cards for Sean 'Diddy' Combs?
The rapper was found guilty on two counts of transportation for engaging in prostitution last month – but was acquitted of racketeering and sex trafficking.
In a recent interview, the US president called Combs 'half-innocent', saying it's 'more likely a no' that he would be pardoned.
'Well, he was essentially, I guess, sort of half-innocent,' Trump told Newsmax host Rob Finnerty, adding: '[He's] still in jail or something, but he was celebrating a victory. But I guess it wasn't as good of a victory.'
When asked whether he would consider pardoning Combs, Trump recalled that he was 'very friendly' with the rapper and that he 'got along with him great.'
Indeed, Trump reportedly attended some of Combs' VIP parties in New York City and once called the rapper 'a good friend' during a 2012 episode of The Apprentice.
However, Trump added: 'But when I ran for office, he was very hostile. It's hard, you know? We're human beings. And we don't like to have things cloud our judgment, right? But when you knew someone and you were fine, and then you run for office, and he made some terrible statements. So I don't know…. it makes it more difficult to do.'
Indeed, Combs told Charlamagne Tha God in 2020 that 'if Trump gets elected, I really do believe in my heart there'll be a race war'.
He went onto to say: 'White men like Trump need to be banished. That way of thinking is real dangerous. This man literally threatened the lives of us and our families about going to vote… The number one priority is to get Trump out of office.'
Check out the full interview below.
Combs is currently awaiting sentencing at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, New York, where he has been held since his arrest in September last year.
Last week, he asked a judge to release him on a $50 million bail as he waits to be sentenced on 3 October.
Prosecutors opposed Combs' request and have said that they now expect Combs could face a prison sentence 'substantially higher' than the four to five years they once thought he was likely to face after his conviction.
They believe the guidelines range 'will be substantially higher,' raising the risk Combs will flee.
Judge Arun Subramanian can choose to ignore the guidelines, which are not mandatory, and Combs' lawyers have said they believe the guidelines, if properly calculated, will call for 21 to 27 months in prison.
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