Almost a month after Sean “Diddy” Combs was found guilty on two federal charges involving the transportation of individuals across state lines for prostitution, US President Donald Trump has addressed the possibility of granting him a pardon.
In a candid interview with Newsmax host Rob Finnerty on August 1, Trump reflected on his past friendship with Combs, the rapper’s subsequent criticism, and the complexities of considering a pardon for someone recently convicted in federal court.
“He was essentially, I guess, sort of half-innocent,” Trump told Newsmax, referring to Combs’ acquittal on the more serious charges of sex trafficking and racketeering. “Still in jail or something, but he was celebrating a victory. But I guess it wasn’t as good of a victory.”
Trump noted that he and Combs were once “very friendly,” but things changed after Trump entered politics. “When I ran for office, he was very hostile,” Trump added.
“It’s hard… We’re human beings. And we don’t like to have things cloud our judgment.”
When Finnerty asked, “But more likely a no for Combs?” Trump replied: “I would say so.”
Legal team distances itself from pardon speculation
While Trump aired his thoughts, Combs’ lead defense attorney, Marc Agnifilo, spoke with Variety the same day to clarify his team’s position. Agnifilo made it clear that seeking a presidential pardon is not part of the legal defense strategy.
“I am not involved in that in the least. I have literally no idea,” he said. “There are times I think there’s nothing to it, and there are times I think it’s just rumor mill stuff. But, I do not purport to know the president’s mind.”
He added: “My end of the business is very focused on the case alone — the merit of the case and what happened in the courtroom. I don’t do anything else.”
Inside the courtroom: Why Diddy’s team is fighting for a retrial
Diddy’s legal battle is far from over.
Nearly a month after the verdict, his attorneys submitted a 62-page motion seeking to vacate the two convictions under the Mann Act or, alternatively, secure a new trial. The Mann Act, a law dating back to 1910, was used in high-profile prosecutions including those of Ghislaine Maxwell and R. Kelly.
Combs was found guilty of transporting women, including ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura and another identified only as “Jane,” for prostitution. His legal team contends that the law was misapplied in his case.
“Sean Combs has basically been convicted for using the services of a sex worker, and that’s just not really prosecuted anymore,” Agnifilo told Variety. “The Mann Act is not supposed to be applied to the user of prostitution services. …It’s supposed to be used for people who make money from the business of prostitution.”
Agnifilo claims the charges reflect a misuse of federal statutes: “He’s been convicted as a john, not a pimp. That’s an exceptional circumstance.”
Bail denied amid allegations of past domestic violence
Combs was denied bail ahead of his October 3 sentencing. The judge cited Combs’ history of domestic violence—a fact the defense acknowledged throughout the trial—as a major factor.
Most incidents, according to Agnifilo, are dated prior to 2018, with one exception. The woman referred to as “Jane” testified about a 2024 altercation during which Combs allegedly assaulted her and later hosted a “freak-off” involving a male escort.
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While prosecutors cited the incident as the clearest example of sex trafficking in the trial, Agnifilo emphasized that Combs had entered a domestic violence program before his arrest. “He was attending classes… I think he was doing well,” the lawyer said, adding: “We hope he gets back out and starts to finish the hard work he started.”
Life behind bars: reflection, writing, and hope
Combs has now been in custody for nearly 11 months at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. Agnifilo speaks with him daily.
“He misses his kids. He’s learned a lot,” the lawyer said. “His time in jail has given him the ability to reflect and consider his life… He’s asking himself: ‘Have I lived up to the blessings I’ve been given?’ And I think his conclusion is: ‘Not in every aspect of my life.’”
Combs has been journaling and working on essays during his incarceration. He’s also exploring ways to initiate inmate programs in a facility that, according to Agnifilo, currently offers none.
“He’s trying to pass the time productively. He tells me, ‘I have more to give,’” said Agnifilo. “Sometimes — not all the time — he looks at these consequences as a blessing.”
Behind-the-scenes lobbying efforts and backlash
Despite the legal team’s denial, Rolling Stone reports that allies of the rap mogul have been quietly lobbying Trump for a pardon. These efforts allegedly include offers of mid-six-figure payments to Trump-aligned political operatives.
But granting leniency could come with serious political fallout. Survivors of sexual violence are reportedly preparing to send a letter urging Trump not to intervene. A draft reviewed by Rolling Stone reads, “A pardon would not be justice but a devastating message to survivors everywhere: that our lives, our pain, and our truth are still negotiable.”
Whether or not Diddy will be granted a retrial — or a presidential pardon — remains to be seen. For now, his legal team is banking on overturning the Mann Act convictions through the courts, while Trump’s cryptic remarks suggest a clemency decision is far from imminent.
Combs is scheduled to be sentenced on October 3.