The White House has dismissed reports claiming that President Donald Trump is considering reducing the prison sentence of hip-hop mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, who is serving a 50-month jail term for prostitution-related offences.
Entertainment outlet TMZ had reported that Trump was “unsure” about whether to grant Diddy clemency, similar to his recent commutation of ex-Congressman George Santos’ sentence.
However, a White House spokesperson told reporters that the claims were “completely false.”
“There is zero truth to the TMZ report, which we would’ve gladly explained had they reached out before running their fake news,” the spokesperson said, according to Daily Mail.
“The president, not anonymous sources, is the final decider on pardons and commutations.”
Diddy, 55, is currently held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, where he has served 13 months of his sentence. He was acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering charges but convicted on two counts of transportation for the purpose of prostitution.
His lawyer, Alexandra Shapiro, has filed a notice of appeal, arguing that the charges were based on outdated laws under the Mann Act.
Trump, who has previously spoken about Diddy’s case, once told Newsmax that he found it “interesting.”
“He was sort of half innocent. I don’t know what they do that he’s still in jail,” Trump said, though he added he was “more likely a no” on granting clemency.
Diddy’s conviction followed a widely watched trial that revisited his violent history with ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura, whose abuse video was shown in court.
During sentencing, Judge Arun Subramanian described Diddy’s actions as “savage” and said they caused “irreparable harm” to his victims.
