Trump: No requests to pardon Sean ‘Diddy' Combs, but will look at facts
Trump has made extensive use of his power to pardon or commute the sentences of people accused of or convicted of federal crimes, a break with tradition, as presidents normally wait until near the end of their terms before granting clemency.
Trump, a Republican, said he had not seen or spoken to Combs in years.
Combs could face life in prison if convicted on all counts.
Also known throughout his career as Puff Daddy and P Diddy, Combs is known for turning artists including Notorious BIG and Mary J Blige into stars. In the process he elevated hip-hop in American culture and became a billionaire.
The criminal charges filed last September and dozens of civil lawsuits accusing Combs of sexual abuse have left his reputation in tatters. Federal prosecutors in Manhattan alleged over two decades Combs coerced women to take part in drug-fuelled sexual performances known as 'freak-offs' with male sex workers.
Two women have testified Combs raped them. His lawyers have acknowledged he was at times abusive in romantic relationships but argued the women who took part in 'freak-offs' did so consensually.
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Sean 'Diddy' Combs stands trial for shocking allegations of running a sex trafficking ring. Image: Bang Showbiz The criminal trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs is now in its sixth week of testimony and interest among influencers and YouTubers is still soaring, as online personalities flock to the Manhattan federal courthouse to livestream their musings. Every day, it's the same routine: content creators on platforms like TikTok, Instagram and YouTube rub shoulders with legacy media organizations as they set up cell phone tripods and stage their shows, enthusiastically relaying their hot takes. The trial of Combs, once a titan of the music industry who faces life in prison if convicted on sex trafficking and racketeering charges, can't be broadcast. The federal courthouse doesn't allow cameras, laptops, phones or even wireless headphones inside. So, alongside the many journalists covering the trial, influencers hustle in and out of the courthouse throughout the day to recount the proceedings beat by beat, dropping off and picking up their electronics at security each time. One woman who goes by the TikTok name "KealoHalika" said in the first two days of testimony she earned an estimated 10,500 followers; her account now has 40,500 followers. "It was like craziness," she told AFP outside the courthouse. "It's been a lot of moving pieces. It's definitely changed my life." Combs is incarcerated and doesn't enter or exit the courthouse publicly. But some of the high-profile attendees and witnesses do, including members of the music mogul's family and figures like Kid Cudi, the rapper who testified that Combs's entourage torched his car. These paparazzi-esque arrivals and exits are catnip for content creators to in turn feed their followers. Video Player is loading. 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Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Man livestreaming outside the federal court in Manhattan during Sean "Diddy" Combs' sex trafficking trial, in New York City. Image: Charly Triballeau / AFP The brief cameo of Ye, who stopped by to lend his "support" to Combs amid the proceedings, was a particular field day for the chronically online. Donat Ricketts, a 32-year-old artist from Los Angeles, was a regular at the high-profile Tory Lanez and A$AP Rocky trials in California. He told AFP he makes between $8,000 and $10,000 a month, including through YouTube's ad revenue program and fan donations. "This is my first time travelling to another state to cover a case," said the creator with about 50,000 YouTube subscribers. "It feels like vacation, plus I'm being able to work and make money from YouTube." Ricketts didn't study journalism but he thinks his "big personality" and ability to relate to online viewers sets him apart. 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The criminal trial of Sean "Diddy" Combs is now in its sixth week of testimony and interest among influencers and YouTubers is still soaring, as online personalities flock to the Manhattan federal courthouse to livestream their musings. Image: Charly Triballeau / AFP Emilie Hagen said she does have a journalism degree but these days publishes via her Substack, also putting out content on Instagram and TikTok. "I'm there every day providing humorous updates," she told AFP of the Combs trial. Dozens of traditional media outlets are providing coverage and analysis of the trial. But Hagen said she's "able to go down rabbit holes that they're not allowed to go down." "I don't have to stick to the daily recap," she said. "I can insert a personal narrative." Many of her most fruitful videos are of "me interacting with all of the wild people that come to the trial outside the courthouse," she added. 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