Donald Trump is once again shutting the door on talk that he might step in to help Diddy as the music mogul continues his legal fight from behind bars.
During a two-hour interview with New York Times reporters on January 7, Trump was asked about several high-profile inmates and whether he would consider granting pardons. When Diddy’s name came up, Trump confirmed that the Bad Boy Records founder did reach out seeking clemency, but made it clear he is not planning to grant it.
“He asked me for a pardon,” Trump said, explaining the request came “through a letter.” When pressed on when the letter was sent, Trump teased reporters by asking, “Oh, would you like to see that letter?” before declining to produce it.
This is not the first time Trump has addressed the situation. Back in October, he told reporters in the Oval Office that the Bad Boy founder had requested a pardon while serving a 50-month sentence in New Jersey and actively appealing both his conviction and sentence. At the time, a White House spokesperson shut down rumors of any possible sentence reduction, telling USA TODAY there was “zero truth” to reports Trump was considering commuting Diddy’s sentence.
Trump has also spoken openly about his strained relationship with Diddy. In an August interview with Newsmax host Rob Finnerty, he said the rapper’s public criticism during Trump’s first term changed things.
“You know, I was very friendly with him. I got along with him great; seemed like a nice guy. I didn’t know him well, but when I ran for office, he was very hostile,” Trump said. When asked if that made a pardon unlikely, he replied, “I’d say so.”
Combs’ legal troubles stem from a July 2 jury verdict that found him guilty on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution involving former partners Casandra “Cassie” Ventura Fine and another woman identified as Jane. He was acquitted of racketeering and sex trafficking charges, but the convictions were enough to land him decades behind bars.
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I DON’T THINK MR. P.DIDDY HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH ANY MURALS BEING DRAWN ONTO THE CONCRETE IN FRONT OF TRUMP TOWERS, SIR.
ALSO,
…HAZING, SLANDER, DEFAMATION OF CHARACTER.
THE PHRASE “BAD BOY” IN “BAD BOY RECORDS” DOES NOT DIRECTLY SOLICIT NEGATIVE BEHAVIOR AT ALL.