US President Donald Trump has publicly rebuffed a plea for clemency from imprisoned music mogul Sean 'Diddy' Combs, revealing a deep rift in their once-friendly relationship.
A Friendship Turned Sour
The former friends, who were photographed together at high-profile events in the late 1990s, fell out when Mr Trump first ran for the presidency in 2016. The President, 79, has now described the shamed rapper as "very hostile" during that period, alleging Combs made "nasty statements" about him.
This history has now come back to haunt Combs, 56, who is currently serving a 50-month prison sentence. He was convicted on prostitution-related charges in October last year, though he was found not guilty on more serious counts including racketeering conspiracy.
The Pardon Request and Trump's Response
It is understood that Combs, the founder of Bad Boy Records and father of seven, sent a personal letter to the White House last month, formally requesting a presidential pardon less than three months into his jail term.
However, when pressed for details about the appeal, President Trump indicated he had no intention of granting it. "I haven't seen him, I haven't spoken to him for years," Mr Trump stated in comments given to the press last May. He elaborated on the personal difficulty of the decision, saying: "We're human beings. We don't like to have things cloud our judgment... when you knew someone and you were fine and then you run for office and he made some terrible statements. So, I don't know. It's more difficult."
The Legal Fallout for Diddy
Sean Combs's legal troubles culminated in his conviction and subsequent sentencing in October. The high-profile case drew significant media attention, not least due to the involvement of allegations from singer Casandra 'Cassie' Ventura, though Combs was acquitted of sex trafficking charges related to her and another unnamed woman.
With his direct appeal to an old acquaintance in the Oval Office now seemingly rejected, the disgraced star's options for an early release appear severely limited. The President's remarks, describing their relationship as having "busted up," paint a grim picture for Combs's hopes of a presidential intervention.
This development underscores how personal history and public criticism can influence high-stakes political decisions, even those pertaining to justice and clemency.
