The president previously said it would be “difficult” to pardon Sean Combs due to the “terrible statements” the rapper made about him in the past

As the clock ticks toward Sean “Diddy” Combs’ October 3 sentencing, the music mogul’s legal team is quietly pursuing a bold — and controversial — move behind the scenes: a presidential pardon.

With just under two months to go before the Bad Boy Records founder faces up to 20 years behind bars, one of his attorneys confirmed that outreach has already been made to President Donald Trump’s administration in the hope of securing clemency.

“It’s my understanding that we’ve reached out and had conversations in reference to a pardon,” said Nicole Westmoreland, a member of Combs’ defense team, during an interview with CNN that aired Tuesday, August 5.

When pressed on whether the former rap titan believes a pardon is possible, Westmoreland replied, “He is a very hopeful person, and I believe that he remains hopeful.”

Combs, 55, was convicted in federal court on July 2 of two counts of interstate transportation to engage in prostitution, following a high-profile, nearly two-month trial in New York City. He was acquitted on more serious charges, including racketeering and sex trafficking.

The verdict came after a year of mounting civil and criminal allegations that have put Combs — once one of hip-hop’s most powerful figures — at the center of one of the entertainment industry’s most stunning downfalls.

Despite pleading not guilty, Combs has remained in custody at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center since his September 2024 arrest.

Over the past 11 months, his legal team has made five unsuccessful attempts to secure bail, most recently denied by Judge Arun Subramanian on August 4.

The court has scheduled Combs’ sentencing for October 3, where he could receive a sentence ranging from probation to the maximum 20-year term.

The pardon request, while not formally confirmed by the White House, is already sparking political ripples. A White House official told CNN they “will not comment on the existence or nonexistence of any clemency request.”

Combs’ connection to Trump dates back to the 1990s and early 2000s, when the two were often photographed together at high-profile events in New York and Miami.

“We were very friendly at one point,” Trump said during an August 1 interview with Newsmax. “I got along with him great. But I didn’t know him well.”

That relationship, however, seems to have soured significantly during Trump’s first campaign and presidency. “He made some terrible statements about me,” Trump added.

“We’re human beings. We don’t like to have things cloud our judgment, right? So, I don’t know. It’s more difficult. Makes it more… I’m being honest, makes it more difficult to do.”

When first asked about the possibility of pardoning Combs in May — even before the jury delivered its verdict — Trump said, “I would certainly look at the facts. If I think someone was mistreated, it wouldn’t matter whether they like me or don’t.”

Since the conviction, Diddy has remained largely out of public view, releasing no public statement.

However, the mounting legal strategy behind closed doors, coupled with ongoing speculation about a potential appeal, points to a defense team working every available angle — including presidential mercy.

The case against Combs erupted in 2024, when federal authorities raided his homes in Los Angeles and Miami as part of an ongoing investigation into sex trafficking and financial crimes.

Prosecutors alleged that Combs operated a “coercive network of influence” over several young women across state lines.

While he was ultimately acquitted of the most severe allegations, the conviction on transportation-related charges cemented a legal reckoning that had long been brewing.

In addition to the criminal case, Combs is facing a slew of civil lawsuits, including multiple suits filed by women alleging assault and coercion.

Though no longer the face of Cîroc or his clothing empire Sean John, Combs still maintains control of his music catalog and retains significant real estate holdings — including two properties with a combined \$100 million in mortgage debt, now under federal scrutiny.

The possibility of a pardon raises significant political implications, not just because of Combs’ past criticisms of Trump, but also due to the high-profile nature of the case itself.

In a presidential election year, any act of clemency involving a celebrity as polarizing as Diddy could become a lightning rod for both parties.

While Trump has previously pardoned several celebrities and controversial figures — including Lil Wayne and Kodak Black — Combs’ case presents a different challenge.

The accusations are more serious, the trial more public, and the conviction far less ambiguous. Even Trump acknowledged, “He was essentially, I guess, sort of half-innocent… but I guess it wasn’t as good of a victory.”

For now, Combs’ team continues to push forward. “He believes in redemption. He believes in second chances,” Westmoreland added during her CNN appearance. “And he’s doing everything he can to show that he’s worthy of one.”

Whether or not that belief will translate into freedom — or a signature from the most powerful man in the country — remains to be seen.

But with every day that passes before October 3, the stakes grow higher, and the story of Diddy’s fall — and potential reprieve — continues to unfold.