President Donald Trump is open to giving a pardon to rap star Sean "Diddy" Combs — but admitted to not following the case closely when asked by reporters, The Daily Beast said on Friday.
Diddy is facing federal charges of racketeering and sex trafficking, following decades of rumors of illicit activity surrounding him. Prosecutors have shown damning evidence to jurors, including a video that appears to show him viciously beating his ex-girlfriend, Cassie Ventura, who alleges he used blackmail and violence to force her to participate in drugged-up orgies.
He could be facing up to life in prison if convicted on the charges, which he denies.
Trump used to be a friend of the rapper. A previous report indicated Diddy has already approached Trump's inner circle about the possibility of a pardon.
While Trump is not opposed to the idea, he is not sold on it either, telling Fox News' Peter Doocy, “First of all, I’d look at what’s happening. And I haven’t been watching it too closely."
EXCLUSIVE: Trump accused of new grift that puts Qatari plane in shade
“I haven’t spoken to him in years," said Trump. “He used to really like me a lot, but I think when I ran for politics, he sort of- that relationship busted up, from what I read, I don’t know. He didn’t tell me that, but I’d read some little bit nasty statements in the paper all of a sudden. So, I don’t know. I would certainly look at the facts. If I think somebody was mistreated, whether they like me or don’t like me, wouldn’t have any impact.”
Trump infamously issued almost 1,600 pardons to people involved in the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Since then, he has issued several dozen more pardons, and one in five of those pardons were for various people who either contributed money to his campaign, endorsed him for office, or have worked with his administration on policy.
Some of the most recent pardons went to Julie and Todd Chrisley, former reality TV stars convicted of bank fraud and tax evasion, and Scott Jenkins, a Virginia sheriff who was convicted of giving deputy badges to people who bribed him.