Can Sean Diddy Combs escape prison in sex trial? Trump's unexpected move might flip US rapper's case

Time of India

17 hours ago

As a verdict looms in disgraced US rapper Sean 'Diddy' Combs' criminal trial and the world edges closer to discovering his fate, one person could pardon him from his potential crimes -i.e. US President Donald Trump. Sean Diddy's five charges range from racketeering to sex trafficking, and he's pleaded not guilty and denied any and all wrongdoing. The jury has decided on four of the charges but remains hung on the racketeering count.
If convicted, Diddy faces a possible death sentence. But Donald Trump holds the power to pardon Diddy, who has the authority to clear him as he did for Todd and Julie Chrisley, reports The Irish Star. Trump commented on the potential for a pardon back in May.
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What Trump said on pardoning Sean Diddy Combs?
The current president has the power to absolve Diddy and he shared his thoughts on the possibility. On May 30, during a press conference, a journalist asked Donald Trump, "You mentioned once in 2012 that Diddy was a good friend of yours back then. He has since found himself in some very serious legal trouble. Would you ever consider pardoning him?"
Trump replied, "Nobody's asked, but I know people are thinking about it," and added, "Some people have been very close to asking."
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Trump elaborated, "First of all, I'd look at what's happening. And I haven't been watching it too closely, although it's certainly getting a lot of coverage. I haven't seen him, I haven't spoken to him in years."
Trump also spoke about his friendship about Sean Diddy Combs noting, "He used to really like me a lot, but I think when I ran for politics, that relationship busted up from what I read. I don't know, he didn't tell me that, but I'd read some nasty statements in the paper all of a sudden."
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"It's different, you become a much different person when you run for politics, and you do what's right. I could do other things, and I'm sure he'd like me, and I'm sure other people would like me, but it wouldn't be as good for our country. Like we said, our country is doing really well because of what we're doing. It's not a popularity contest," he elaborated.
The president concluded, saying, "I would certainly look at the facts. If I saw someone was mistreated, whether they liked me or don't like me, it wouldn't have any impact."
The jury deliberating on Diddy's case is set to continue their discussions tomorrow, July 2, focusing on the racketeering charge.
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Sean Diddy hit with new lawsuit
The controversial rapper has been hit with a fresh lawsuit as Edmond Laurent, a former model and actor who once appeared in Britney Spears and Lil' Kim music videos, is suing Combs and several Jane and John Does. The actor has accused them of assault, battery, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligence and sexual battery as well as civil conspiracy and aiding and abetting. The Dominica native who moonlighted as an exotic dancer under the name 'Islander' is seeking $10 million, reports The Variety.
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The 32-page complaint filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court, chronicles a series of alleged incidents that took place in the late 2000s at a swath of luxury hotels in the Los Angeles area including The Intercontinental in Century City, SLS in Beverly Hills and the Mondrian in West Hollywood. According to the lawsuit, Laurent was drugged and raped by Combs and a mystery woman, who purposefully punctured a condom with her nails and exposed the plaintiff to a sexually transmitted infection. The complaint states that he suffered severe health issues including stomach cancer as a result of the alleged abuse.
Sean Diddy Combs is currently detained at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., and is awaiting the jury's verdict in a criminal trial on federal charges of sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution.