Trump Questions Fairness of Diddy Trial Outcome

Former President Donald Trump has commented on the potential presidential pardon for rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs. In an interview with Newsmax on Friday, August 1, Trump was asked if he would pardon Combs after he was found guilty of a federal charge last month.

Sean Combs was found guilty of one count of transportation with intent to engage in prostitution in the first degree in early July. Bad Boy Records founder was found not guilty on sex trafficking and racketeering charges.

The trial lasted for seven weeks with many allegations and testimonies, including the shocking appearance by singer Cassie Ventura, who testified that Combs abused and trafficked her during their past relationship. Diddy denied all the allegations that he abused or trafficked the singer, and he claims that he is innocent of all the charges.

In response to the question of whether he would pardon Diddy if asked, Trump gave a very Trump-like answer. He started with a joke, “Well, he was essentially, I guess, sort of half-innocent, right? Okay,” he went on to further elaborate. “He’s still in jail or something, but he was celebrating a victory. But I guess it wasn’t as good a victory.”

During the interview, the former president also discussed his past relationship with Sean Combs. He claims that the two were close “friends” before his political career. “We were very friendly. I got along with him great,” he said.

Trump later claimed that his relationship with Combs deteriorated after he decided to enter politics. “He used to like me a lot. I think when I ran for politics, that relationship busted up,” he said. But, like in previous statements, Trump said that if there are enough facts, then he would consider a pardon. “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,” he added.

Trump and Sean Combs: A History

Sean Combs has been arrested and charged with federal charges of sex trafficking, racketeering, and transporting for prostitution. During a press briefing in the Oval Office, Trump was asked if he would consider pardoning Diddy if asked, to which he gave a reply not unlike the one that he had said on Friday.

In May, Trump was asked the same question by Fox News reporter Peter Doocy during a press briefing in the Oval Office. Trump, at the time, also promised to “look at the facts” in a possible pardon.

“I haven’t spoken to him in years,” Trump said. “If I think somebody was mistreated, whether they like me or don’t like me, it wouldn’t have any impact on me.”

The charges for Sean Combs came after a seven-week trial with many testimonies. The 55-year-old was sentenced last month and has been found guilty of a federal charge of transportation with intent to engage in prostitution. He has, however, been found not guilty on racketeering and sex trafficking charges.

Combs is now expected to face a maximum of 20 years in prison and is currently scheduled to be sentenced on October 3. Trump, as well as many political observers, has shifted their focus to the date to see if the former president will grant Diddy a presidential pardon.