White House denies report Trump could free Sean 'Diddy' Combs soon; TMZ doubles down

Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News on Oct 21, 2025

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Despite a White House denial that President Donald Trump is considering commuting Sean “Diddy” Combs’ 50-month sentence for prostitution-related charges, TMZ is standing by its report that the president is “vacillating” on the matter and could make a decision this week.

Combs has served 13 months of his sentence at Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center.

Some White House staffers are reportedly urging the president not to get involved in the 55-year-old Harlem native’s case, but “Trump will do what he wants,” according to a TMZ source.

Combs’ legal team first contacted “a high-ranking White House official who has the ear of the president” about commuting the Grammy winning artist‘s sentence as soon as it was handed down on Oct. 3.

He was arrested Sept. 16, 2024, on charges including racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. Combs was acquitted of the first two charges and convicted on the third. His team said Monday it would appeal that conviction, according to The New York Times.

“We stand by our story. Our story is accurate,” TMZ insisted after being told by the White House that their story isn’t true.

Trump used his presidential powers to commute the sentence of convicted fraudster and former U.S. Rep. George Santos last week. The disgraced ex-congressman was released from New Jersey’s FCI Fairton on Friday, where be began serving what would’ve been an 87-month sentence in July. Santos claimed he learned he was being set free while watching television.

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