The Trump administration has reportedly cooled on the idea of a pardon for rapper Sean ‘Diddy’ Coombs. The rapper was sentenced to four years in prison for “two counts of transportation for prostitution” in 2025.

On 21 October, music magazine TMZ reported that Trump was weighing a pardon:

According to our source, the President is “vacillating” on a commutation. We’re told some of the W.H. staff are urging Trump not to commute the sentence. But, our source states the obvious — “Trump will do what he wants,” and we’re told Trump could set Diddy free as early as this week.

But that story cooled within hours following denials from the Trump camp. An official quoted by USA Today said:

there is “zero truth” to the claims in TMZ’s story. The president, not anonymous sources, is the final decider on pardons and commutations.

Diddy’s potential appeal

On 20 October, it emerged that Combs was appealing his 50 month sentence. During the trial:

More than 30 people, from government agents to ex-girlfriends, sex workers and hotel employees, took the stand in Manhattan over the course of seven weeks as prosecutors presented their case that Combs allegedly led a “criminal enterprise” that operated on sex trafficking, kidnapping, drug offenses and forced labor, among other crimes.

Combs in one of a number of alleged and convicted sexual dangers Trump has past links to:

BREAKING: Donald Trump is considering commuting Diddy’s sentence as early as this week, TMZ reports. pic.twitter.com/cA7gf1YT2a

— Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) October 21, 2025

Others include Jeffrey Epstein:

Remember: There are 76 photos of Trump and Epstein together, Trump doesn’t even have that many photos with his own kids. pic.twitter.com/a5214021Df

— Alex Cole (@acnewsitics) July 7, 2024

And Maxwell’s longtime fixer Ghislaine Maxwell:

It would be a huge shame if these many pictures of @realDonaldTrump with child sex-trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell throughout the years started trending. pic.twitter.com/zzNHfatHaV

— Bess Kalb (@bessbell) July 2, 2020

Caught up in the same web of suspicion is Prince Andrew, the King’s brother. Andrew recently had a number of titles stripped away as he continues to somehow be the black sheep of the Windsors. But, the bar is in hell at this stage.

On 22 October, it was reported that the shamed royal was struggling to afford maintenance on his 30-room lodge. Never mind.

Rape culture

The fact that it was even feasible that Trump may pardon Diddy – as he has with plenty of other people – says a lot about rape culture. Diddy’s trial has seen sensationalist coverage of a high-profile trial, with as usual, little attention paid to the experiences and needs of survivors. Trump’s own long, long history of sexual misconduct allegations does little to dispel concerns that Diddy may be pardoned. Regardless of what happens next one thing is clear: rape and sexual abuse is not enough to exclude someone from political office, celebrity status, or some other form of high profile public life. Whether it’s abusive presidents, cops, or anyone else, the problem is endemic.

Featured image via the Canary

By Joe Glenton

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