President Donald Trump says he is willing to consider pardoning Sean Combs if the rapper is convicted in his ongoing sex trafficking trial. The disgraced music mogul was arrested in September on charges of human trafficking, racketeering, forced labor, kidnapping, arson, conspiracy, and transportation to engage in prostitution.
Combs denied all of the allegations and he rejected a plea deal offer to avoid a life sentence.
Trump said he will look at all the facts before making a decision to pardon the rapper.
“First of all, I’d look at what’s happening. And I haven’t been watching it too closely,” he said, referring to the trial. Trump said he hasn’t spoken to Combs “in years”.
Trump noted that Combs said some “nasty statements” about him while campaigning for the Democrats last year. But Trump is willing to put their differences aside in the interest of justice.
“[Combs] 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,” Trump said. “I don’t know. He didn’t tell me that, but I’d read some little … 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,” he added.
Earlier this week, Trump pardoned reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley. He also commuted the federal life sentences of former Chicago gang leader Larry Hoover Sr. and he pardoned rapper NBA YoungBoy, who was already free on 5 years probation.
Trump also forgave the January 6 defendants among hundred of pardons he has issued since his Inauguration.
