Music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs has formally requested a presidential pardon from President Donald Trump following his recent conviction on federal prostitution charges.
According to his defense attorney, Nicole Westmoreland, Combs’ legal team has initiated formal communication with the Trump administration in hopes of securing clemency ahead of his October sentencing.
Westmoreland stated, “It’s my understanding that we’ve reached out and had conversations in reference to a pardon.” She added that Diddy remains optimistic about the possibility, despite mounting legal challenges. “He is a very hopeful person, and I believe that he remains hopeful,” she said.
The request for a pardon comes just days after President Trump publicly signaled skepticism about granting clemency to the disgraced rap icon. In an interview with Newsmax, Trump said, “I was very friendly with him, I got along with him great, and he seemed like a nice guy. I didn’t know him well. But when I ran for office, he was very hostile.” T
he president admitted it would be a “more difficult thing to do,” casting doubt on whether he would intervene in the case.
Still, Combs’ legal team appears undeterred. With Diddy facing a potentially lengthy prison sentence, his attorneys are exploring all avenues, including presidential mercy, to secure his freedom.
Combs, 55, has been held without bail at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center since his September 2024 arrest. Earlier this week, a New York federal judge once again denied his request for pre-sentencing release, citing the seriousness of the charges and the strength of the evidence against him. It was the fourth such rejection from the court.
U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian ruled that there were no “exceptional reasons” to grant bail at this stage. He emphasized that Combs still posed a “risk of flight or danger” and added that no combination of bond conditions would satisfy the court’s concerns. “The weight of the evidence and the potential sentence create strong incentives to flee,” Subramanian said. He also cited potential intimidation of victims and witnesses as a continuing concern.
The denial followed a 62-page motion filed by Combs’ legal team on July 25, which laid out arguments for his release and disputed the government’s case. Despite the effort, the court remained unconvinced.
Combs was convicted on July 2 of transporting individuals across state lines for the purpose of engaging in prostitution. However, he was acquitted on more serious charges of sex trafficking and racketeering.
The case was sparked by a 2023 lawsuit from his former girlfriend, R&B singer Cassie Ventura, who accused Combs of repeated sexual abuse, violence, and exploitation during their relationship. Her suit led to a cascade of additional lawsuits and federal investigations, including claims of rape, harassment, and trafficking.
While some legal experts argue that Combs’ acquittal on the most serious charges was a partial legal victory, the conviction still carries a potential sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison. His formal sentencing is scheduled for October 3, and barring a successful appeal or a presidential pardon, he will remain in federal custody until then.
The push for a pardon has sparked political discussion as well. Combs had previously been critical of Donald Trump during the 2016 and 2020 election cycles, publicly endorsing Democrats and accusing Trump of racist rhetoric. However, with his freedom now on the line, Diddy’s team is hoping that past differences won’t stand in the way of mercy.
So far, the Trump administration has not issued an official statement regarding the pardon request, and it remains unclear whether President Trump would entertain such a move.
Still, the request is likely to intensify scrutiny of the former music producer’s legal strategy—and raise broader questions about justice, politics, and celebrity influence in America’s legal system.