Will Trump pardon Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, Ghislaine Maxwell? He has pardoned these celebrities

ByStoryAI

Jul 31, 2025

Will Trump pardon Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, Ghislaine Maxwell? He has pardoned these celebrities

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Will Trump pardon Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, Ghislaine Maxwell? He has pardoned these celebrities

President Donald Trump is being asked if he is considering pardoning Sean “Diddy” Combs and Ghislaine Maxwell. The questions come as Trump faces calls for more transparency around Jeffrey Epstein. Trump has not ruled out a pardon for Maxwell, who is serving a 20-year prison sentence for trafficking a minor to Epstein for sexual abuse. He has a history of pardoning celebrities, including Lil Wayne and the Chrisleys. The White House did not comment on the possibility of Combs being pardoned, but Trump has said, “I know people are thinking about it” and that he hasn’t spoken to Combs in years. “Nobody’s asked me about it,” Trump said on May 30, when asked about a pardon. “It’s in the news about that, that aspect of it, but right now, it would be inappropriate to talk about it.”

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AI-assisted summary Donald Trump is being asked if he is considering pardoning Sean “Diddy” Combs and Ghislaine Maxwell.

Trump has previously pardoned other celebrities, including Lil Wayne and the Chrisleys.

The questions come as Trump faces calls for more transparency around Jeffrey Epstein.

From Lil Wayne to the Chrisleys, President Donald Trump has pardoned celebrities across both presidential terms.

Now, he is being questioned about the possibility of pardoning two other high-profile people: embattled music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs and Jeffrey Epstein’s former partner, Ghislaine Maxwell.

Maxwell, serving a 20-year prison sentence for trafficking a minor to Epstein for sexual abuse, has asked the president to grant her clemency in exchange for her testimony to Congress. The Trump administration has been caught up in controversy over the case for weeks as his supporters seek more transparency about Epstein’s criminal case files.

Combs was acquitted on July 2 of the most serious of charges in his recent sex-crimes trial, but he was convicted on two minor counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.

What has Trump said about pardoning them?

Will Trump pardon Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs?

Deadline and TMZ reported earlier this week, citing anonymous sources, that Trump is considering a pardon for Combs.

When asked about the possibility on May 30, Trump said, “nobody’s asked,” about a pardon.

“But I know people are thinking about it. I know they’re thinking about it. I think some people have been very close to asking.” Trump added, “I haven’t spoken to him in years. He really liked me a lot.”

USA TODAY previously reached out to Combs’ team for comment. The White House did not comment on the possibility.

Will Trump pardon Ghislaine Maxwell?

Trump has not ruled out a pardon for Maxwell.

Speaking to reporters in Scotland on July 28, Trump addressed the possibility.

“Well, I’m allowed to give her a pardon, but nobody’s approached me with it. Nobody’s asked me about it,” Trump said. “It’s in the news about that, that aspect of it, but right now, it would be inappropriate to talk about it.”

Maxwell’s defense lawyer David Markus wrote a letter laying out Maxwell’s conditions to testify publicly on Epstein. Those included immunity and an advanced look at the questions she would be asked. But in lieu of those, “she would be willing — and eager — to testify openly and honestly, in public, before Congress in Washington, D.C.,” if she received clemency, the letter stated.

What celebrities has Trump pardoned?

Trump has a history of pardoning celebrities, including:

Todd and Julie Chrisley – Sentenced for bank fraud charges, pardoned in May 2025.

Rapper NBA YoungBoy (Legal name: Kentrell Gaulden) – Sentenced for federal gun charges, pardoned in May 2025.

Actor Jay Johnston was sentenced for his involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021, riots at the U.S. Capitol. Trump granted clemency to more than 1,500 people who were charged in the riot upon returning to office.

Lil Wayne (Legal name: Dwayne Michael Carter) – Sentenced for gun possession charges, pardoned in January 2021.

Kodak Black (Legal name: Bill Kapri) – Sentenced for making false statements regarding attempting to acquire a firearm. His sentence was commuted, or reduced, in January 2021.

Contributing: Jay Stahl, Aysha Bagchi, USA TODAY

Kinsey Crowley is the Trump Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at kcrowley@gannett.com. Follow her on X and TikTok @kinseycrowley or Bluesky at @kinseycrowley.bsky.social.

Source: Usatoday.com | View original article

Source: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/07/31/trump-diddy-pardon-ghislaine-epstein/85402770007/