A White House official on Tuesday pushed back on a report that President Donald Trump is considering commuting Sean “Diddy” Combs’ prison sentence as soon as this week.
TMZ reported on Monday that the president was “vacillating” on a commutation for the music mogul, citing a “high-ranking White House official.”
“There is zero truth to the TMZ report, which we would’ve gladly explained had they reached out before running their fake news,” the official told NBC News in a statement. “The President, not anonymous sources, is the final decider on pardons and commutations.”
Casey Carver, a spokesperson for TMZ, said in a brief statement: “We stand by our story.”
Lawyers for Combs also did not immediately return a request for comment about the disparity between the White House statement and TMZ’s reporting. However, Combs’ lawyers have previously told NBC News they have been pursuing a pardon for their client.
Combs was convicted in July on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, but acquitted on more damning charges of racketeering and sex trafficking. On Oct. 3, a federal judge sentenced him to 50 months in prison, fined him $500,000 and ordered five years of supervised release.
He pleaded not guilty and has maintained his innocence.
On Aug. 1, Trump was asked about potentially pardoning Combs in an interview with Newsmax.
“You know, I was very friendly with him. I got along with him great and seemed like a nice guy. I didn’t know him well,” Trump said. “But when I ran for office, he was very hostile.”
When asked if he was suggesting that he wouldn’t pardon Combs, Trump said, “I would say so.”
“When you knew someone and you were fine, and then you run for office, and he made some terrible statements. So, I don’t know, it’s more difficult,” Trump said. “Makes it more — I’m being honest, it makes it more difficult to do.”
Trump has issued several controversial pardons and commutations throughout his second term as president.
In January, Trump pardoned roughly 1,500 criminal defendants in connection with the violent attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. In May, Trump pardoned the imprisoned reality television couple, Todd and Julie Chrisley.
And last week, Trump commuted the sentence of former Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., after the disgraced congressman pleaded guilty to charges of committing wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.
Combs has asked to serve out his sentence at Federal Correctional Institution, Fort Dix, a low-security federal prison in New Jersey, but the Bureau of Prisons must approve the request.
He faces strict conditions upon his supervised release, according to court documents filed in the weeks after his sentencing. Among the conditions is that he will be required to attend regular meetings with his probation officer and refrain from drug use, with a drug test taken within 15 days after his release and two periodic tests after that time frame, according to the seven-page filing.
Combs must also participate in an outpatient program that includes testing, an outpatient mental health treatment program and an approved program for domestic violence, the filing states.
Lawyers for Combs filed a notice of appeal in federal court on Monday, aiming to overturn the music mogul’s conviction and 50-month prison sentence. A Justice Department representative did not immediately return a request for comment on the anticipated notice.
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