Donald Trump Sean Combs pardon denied as President rules out clemency for SBF and Maduro
President Donald Trump has officially denied a pardon for Sean 'Diddy' Combs. The refusal also applies to Nicolás Maduro and Sam Bankman-Fried, reinforcing Trump's selective clemency approach.
A personal plea sent through a letter wasn't enough to secure a way out. President Donald Trump has officially confirmed that he's not considering a pardon for the disgraced music mogul Sean 'Diddy' Combs, putting an end to months of speculation regarding the rapper's future.
The Donald Trump Sean Combs pardon decision and a soured history
Speaking to the New York Times on January 8, 2026, Trump revealed that while Combs had personally requested clemency, the request wouldn't be granted. Combs, 56, was sentenced in October 2025 to four years in federal prison for two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. Although he avoided life imprisonment by being acquitted of sex trafficking charges, he remains behind bars.
The relationship between the two men, once characterized by shared circles in the 1990s NYC elite, reportedly turned cold after Combs became a vocal critic of Trump's political career. Trump noted that this past criticism made the decision for a pardon "more difficult to do."
Broad denials for Maduro, Menendez, and Sam Bankman-Fried
The President's refusal extended beyond the music industry. Trump also clarified that he is not contemplating pardons for Nicolás Maduro, the ousted Venezuelan leader, or Robert Menendez, the former senator convicted of bribery. Most notably, Sam Bankman-Fried, the disgraced founder of FTX who was convicted on seven counts of fraud in 2023, was also explicitly excluded from clemency considerations.
Combs asked me for a pardon through a letter... but it is not something I am contemplating at this time.
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