(NewsNation) — A White House official said President Donald Trump is not considering a commutation for Sean ”Diddy” Combs, pushing back on an earlier report that the president was mulling over potentially releasing the music producer as early as this week.
The official told NewsNation that there was no truth to a TMZ report that Trump was thinking about commuting Combs. The official added that the president is the final decision maker on all pardons and commutations.
The outlet pushed back on the White House on Tuesday, saying, “We stand by our story. Our story is accurate.” TMZ had cited a “high-ranking White House official” in their earlier story.
Trump confirmed earlier this month that Combs had requested a pardon for his prostitution-related felony convictions.
“A lot of people have asked me for pardons,” Trump told journalists in the Oval Office. “I call him Puff Daddy; he has asked me for a pardon.”
Combs’ attorneys did not return a request for comment on the pardon request from NewsNation.
The music producer was sentenced to four years and two months last week after being convicted in July on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution under the Mann Act.
Combs was the center of a months-long trial earlier this year, which put his clout and celebrity in focus around accusations of human trafficking and prostitution.
He was acquitted of larger racketeering and sex trafficking charges.
Trump granted a commutation for former Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., months after the ex-lawmaker reported to prison for his 87-month sentence. Santos had pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.
“George has been in solitary confinement for long stretches of time and, by all accounts, has been horribly mistreated,” the president wrote in a statement on Truth Social.
“Therefore, I just signed a Commutation, releasing George Santos from prison, IMMEDIATELY. Good luck George, have a great life!” He added.
Santos will not be required to pay any additional fines or restitution related to his criminal conviction, according to his clemency order, which was made public Monday.