Exclusive: Trump Says No to Diddy Pardon After Guilty Verdict in Sex Trafficking Case
New YorTrump ‘Receptive’ to Pardoning Diddy After Guilty Verdict in Federal Prostitution Case
New York, July 1, 2025 — Sean “Diddy” Combs is now a convicted felon after a federal jury found him guilty of multiple counts of prostitution-related offenses. The entertainment mogul was convicted on two counts of federal prostitution and two counts of sex trafficking, under the RICO statute. While the jury deadlocked on the most serious charge — RICO conspiracy — the convictions he did receive carry a potential sentence of up to 20 years in prison.
But just hours after the verdict came down, Media Take Out has learned exclusively that Diddy’s political team has been in direct contact with President Donald Trump — and the former president is reportedly “receptive” to the idea of issuing a pardon.
According to a senior source familiar with the discussions, Trump’s inner circle has been weighing the request. “The president is taking it seriously,” the source said. “He’s not made a final decision, but he’s receptive. He knows Diddy. He’s watching this closely.”
This development could mark a pivotal moment for Combs, who has been at the center of one of the most dramatic downfalls in entertainment history. Just two years ago, he was riding high as a business mogul, media executive, and music legend. Today, he faces the possibility of spending the next two decades behind bars.
Conviction Stuns Music Industry
The verdict came after weeks of explosive testimony from former romantic partners and employees, who accused Combs of organizing and financing a network of coerced sexual activity under the guise of business. The federal prosecution argued that Diddy used his wealth, celebrity, and influence to recruit and exploit women, transporting them across state lines and offering them to clients or industry insiders for sex.
The defense argued the acts were consensual, and that the government had relied on unreliable witnesses and sensational claims. But in the end, the jury was convinced on four of the five charges, dealing a massive blow to Combs’s defense team.
Bail Pending Sentencing
Combs’s attorneys have filed a motion for bail pending sentencing, asking the judge to allow their client to remain free while they prepare an appeal. The judge is expected to rule on that request as early as tomorrow. If denied, Diddy will be remanded into federal custody immediately.
Sentencing is scheduled for late summer. While he avoids the maximum penalties associated with a full RICO conspiracy conviction, Diddy is still facing up to 20 years in prison based on the four counts.
Trump’s Support Could Be a Game Changer
What seemed like a hopeless legal situation may now take a political turn. As Media Take Out previously reported, Combs had begun working behind the scenes with GOP-aligned lobbyists and attorneys weeks before the verdict, preparing for the possibility of a conviction. Their goal: secure a presidential pardon.
That gamble may pay off.
While Trump has not publicly commented on Diddy’s verdict, he has a history of issuing high-profile pardons, including to rappers Lil Wayne and Kodak Black in 2021. Both were granted clemency during Trump’s final hours in office. The former president also reportedly sees Combs as a “known quantity,” someone he’s worked with on events and entertainment ventures in the past.
Still, a pardon could be politically risky. Victims’ advocacy groups have already begun publicly opposing any clemency for Combs, and some conservative media figures have also questioned whether Trump should tie himself to such a controversial case.
Uncertain Future Ahead
For now, Sean Combs is awaiting sentencing — and the outcome of his bail hearing. He’s also playing what may be his last card: a political rescue.
If Trump ultimately decides to step in, it would be a stunning reversal of fortune for a man whose empire seemed to be collapsing. But if the pardon doesn’t come, Diddy could be headed to federal prison for a very long time.
As one insider put it, “He’s holding on to hope — and that hope is spelled T‑R‑U‑M‑P.”