The White House on Tuesday forcefully rejected a report suggesting President Donald Trump is weighing a commutation for music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs. A statement issued by the administration declared the story contained “zero truth,” dispelling speculation that Trump might intervene in the rapper’s legal case.
Allegations Spark the Denial
A report published by TMZ cited a “high-ranking White House official” who alleged Trump was “vacillating” on whether to commute Combs’ prison sentence. In response, the White House commented: “The President, not anonymous sources, is the final decider on pardons and commutations.”
A White House spokesperson added, “There is zero truth to the TMZ report, which we would’ve gladly explained had they reached out before running their fake news.”
Sean “Diddy” Combs was recently convicted of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, and sentenced to 50 months in prison. Previously, he was acquitted of racketeering and sex-trafficking charges. In a May news conference, Trump noted that no pardon request had been submitted for Combs, though he said he would “look at the facts” if one were. Later, Trump indicated a pardon had become “more difficult” because of critical comments Combs made about him during his campaign.
A senior official said any such decision “will not be commented on while under consideration.”