Is President Donald Trump weighing whether to commute the prison sentence of Sean "Diddy" Combs? It depends who you listen to. According to TMZ on October 20, Donald Trump is considering commuting Diddy's sentence as early as this week, according to a high-ranking White House official." The TMZ report continued, "According to our source, the President is 'vacillating' on a commutation."
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White House Refutes Story About Possible Commutation
However, per Billboard, on October 21, the White House Communications Office debunked that information. "There is zero truth to the TMZ report, which we would've gladly explained had they reached out before running their fake news." Per NBC, according to the spokesperson, "The President, not anonymous sources, is the final decider on pardons and commutations."
Under the heading "Update," TMZ then added this to its story. "10/21 -- 6:33 AM PT -- The White House Communications Office is saying our story is not true. We stand by our story. Our story is accurate."
So far, lawyers for the former music mogul have not commented on the swirling rumors about a presidential commutation, per NBC.
Trump Discussed Combs Previously
Per NBC via Newsmax, Trump said of Combs, 55, on August 1, "You know, I was very friendly with him. I got along with him great and [he] seemed like a nice guy. I didn't know him well. But when I ran for office, he was very hostile." He was questioned about whether a pardon was off the table for Combs. Trump replied, "I would say so."
According to Billboard, Trump said after Combs was sentenced, "He has asked me for a pardon."
He Was Sentenced to Over Four Years in Prison
Nearly three weeks ago. per NBC, Combs was "sentenced...to 50 months in prison, fined...$500,000, and ordered {to have] five years of supervised release." Three months ago, Combs was "convicted of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution." He got acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering.
According to ABC News, Combs "intend[s] to appeal his conviction and over four-year prison sentence, according to a notice filed Monday in the Federal District Court of New York."
