Legal representatives for Sean “Diddy” Combs are currently attempting to deliver a not-guilty verdict for their client in the Southern District of New York, but other members of the former media mogul’s team are reportedly working toward another goal. According to a report from Cheyenne Roundtree and Asawin Suebaeng of Rolling Stone, “allies” of Combs are attempting to secure a pardon from Donald Trump on behalf of the New York native. Representatives for Combs are currently engaged in “ongoing and preliminary” conversations with Trump associates. Still, officials close to the former reality show host tell Rolling Stone they have expressed “deep reservations” about granting a pardon to Combs.
Combs’s latest legal battle became front-page news in November 2023 when former Bad Boy recording artist Cassie Ventura filed a lawsuit against him. The singer accused Combs of exploitation and abuse, among other acts. As learned in court this month, the lawsuit was eventually settled for an estimated $20 million. In the following months, Combs was hit with dozens of lawsuits, accusing him of abuse, rape, and other violent acts. This past September, he was ultimately charged in a three count Indictment with racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and transportation to engage in prostitution.
“As alleged in the Indictment, for years, Sean Combs used the business empire he controlled to sexually abuse and exploit women, as well as to commit other acts of violence and obstruction of justice. Today, he is charged with racketeering and sex trafficking offenses,” U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said.
Combs turned himself in to authorities shortly thereafter and has been in custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. He has pleaded not guilty and is currently in the middle of a trial at Daniel Patrick Moynihan Courthouse in New York. If convicted, he could face up to life in prison.
