- calendar_today August 16, 2025
Partial Acquittal, Presidential Pardon? Trump Weighs In
President Donald Trump is once more in the news for comments on Sean “Diddy” Combs’ legal battle. In an August 1 interview with Newsmax’s Finnerty on Friday, Trump spoke again on the possibility of pardoning the hip-hop executive.
In early July, Sean Combs, the Bad Boy Records founder and rap star, was found guilty on a single federal charge. Although the former president had said last month he would “look at the facts,” Trump had been asked about the possibility of pardoning Combs in light of his recent conviction. Sean Combs was convicted on charges of transportation with intent to engage in prostitution, but he was cleared of more serious charges like sex trafficking and racketeering.
The seven-week trial, which involved a number of testimonies from multiple witnesses, was indeed hard for Sean Combs, Bad Boy Records’ chief, and his team. Singer Cassie Ventura also took part in the court case to share her story about her former relationship with the music executive, which she alleged included abuse and trafficking. Sean Combs has always denied all these claims and allegations.
As for a presidential pardon, Trump offered no commitment but a non-ruling-out commitment in a new interview on August 1. “Well, he was sort of, I guess, half-innocent,” he told the host. “He’s still in jail or something, but he was celebrating a victory. But I guess it wasn’t as good a victory.”
In the same interview, Trump also gave some comments regarding the kind of relationship he and Sean Combs had in the past. “We were very friendly. I got along with him great,” he said. “He used to like me a lot. I think when I ran for politics, that relationship busted up. … I would certainly look at the facts. If I think somebody was mistreated, whether they like me or don’t like me, it wouldn’t have any impact on me.”
Combs’ Case and Trump’s Interview with Fox News Reporter Peter Doocy
Sean Combs is currently facing a 20-year sentence after the jury reached a verdict on his racketeering and sex trafficking case on July 2. The rapper and Bad Boy Records founder could also see his conviction dropped for felony racketeering, sex trafficking, and conspiracy charges.
Trump has been somewhat noncommittal on whether he would pardon Sean Combs in the past. In May, in the Oval Office press briefing, Trump was also asked by Fox News reporter Peter Doocy if he would consider pardoning Sean Combs. Trump replied: “I’ll look at the facts. I will look at the facts. He was totally and fully exonerated of a number of charges. They found him innocent of the charges. You know, I will look at the facts. II may”
“I haven’t spoken to him in years, but I’ll tell you I know him very well,” the former president added to Doocy’s follow-up. “If I think somebody was mistreated, whether they like me or don’t like me, it wouldn’t have any impact on me.”
The 20-year prison sentence and other charges on RICO charges against Sean Combs have been pushed to October. Combs will be sentenced on October 3 this year. The federal jury has acquitted him of racketeering, sex trafficking, and conspiracy charges.
