Former President Donald Trump recently addressed the possibility of pardoning Sean “Diddy” Combs and Ghislaine Maxwell in an interview on Newsmax. His comments reveal the complexity of the administration’s view, informed by experience, previous statements and overall political calculus.
During the interview, Trump admitted that he has his own challenges to contend with in the Combs case – that Combs is a “sort of half-innocent.” This characterization comes from their former relationship, including public displays of affection and camaraderie. Trump’s incautious enthusiasm is tempered by Combs’ record of Trump-bashing. In 2020, Combs stated on-air that “white men like Donald Trump need to be banished,” which Trump recalled during the interview.
Here’s what Trump said earlier this week when the White House press corps asked him about a potential pardon for Combs. Combs’ sentencing is scheduled for October 3rd. Combs has asked to be released on a $50 million bond pending that hearing.
“It’s hard, you know? We’re human beings. And we don’t want to let shiny objects distract us, do we? But when you knew someone and you were fine, and then you run for office, and he made some terrible statements,” Trump explained, indicating that such comments weigh on his decision-making process.
In spite of these obstacles, Trump still seems amenable to issuing a pardon.…Indeed, well, I’m permitted to give her a pardon, he pointed to Maxwell. But he said there’s been no official request made to him regarding Combs’ case. “But nobody’s approached me with it. Nobody’s asked me about it,” he added.
Maxwell is currently serving 20 years in prison for her role in the sexual trafficking and abuse of minors with Jeffrey Epstein. She currently finds herself in a deeply concerning legal quagmire. For this reason, Trump’s administration received widespread bipartisan condemnation for its handling of the records from the Epstein investigation. This present controversy would make any discussions on pardons more difficult.
If you watch the full interview with Newsmax, you’ll see that Trump is quite successful in avoiding the political crucible of his past associations and choices. He remarked, “It’s in the news about that, that aspect of it, but right now, it would be inappropriate to talk about it.” His circumspect approach mirrors the political landscape he needs to navigate as he decides what to do.
As our colleagues at Justice Collaborative recently wrote, Trump has a long, well-documented history of abusing his presidential pardon power, typically to benefit his political allies and supporters. His previous pardons have received promotion and condemnation from all sides of the political spectrum.
As events continue to unfold, both Combs and Maxwell are still very much in the crosshairs of public interest and legal scrutiny. Trump’s comments indicate an increased willingness to look at their cases. Yet he highlights the unintended consequences introduced by interpersonal dynamics and historical animosities.