Sean “Diddy” Combs, the once-dominant figure in hip-hop as a rapper, producer, and entrepreneur, has reportedly enlisted former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson to deliver a handwritten letter requesting a presidential pardon from U.S. President Donald Trump. The revelation comes amid Combs' ongoing incarceration following his 2025 federal conviction on prostitution-related charges.
According to sources cited by The U.S. Sun (a publication affiliated with The Sun), Tyson, 59, met with one of Combs’ closest confidantes prior to a White House visit in November 2025. During the meeting, the confidante handed Tyson the letter, explaining it was a plea for clemency. Tyson reportedly expressed nervousness about the request but agreed to deliver it, later confirming he “handed the letter to Trump and did exactly what Diddy’s lot had asked of him.”
President Trump publicly acknowledged receiving a pardon request from Combs in early January 2026. In an interview with The New York Times published on January 8, 2026, Trump stated that Combs “asked me for a pardon” through a letter, though he did not provide details on its delivery method or contents. Trump emphasized he was “not considering” granting the pardon, effectively closing the door on clemency for the 56-year-old music executive.
The White House had previously addressed related media inquiries on December 9, 2025, with a spokesperson neither confirming nor denying the Tyson involvement but asserting that “the President, not anonymous sources, is the final decider on all pardons.” Any speculation about a Diddy pardon was deemed inaccurate at the time.
Combs' legal troubles stem from a high-profile federal trial in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Arrested in September 2024, he faced charges including racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and violations of the Mann Act (transportation to engage in prostitution). After an eight-week trial, a jury on July 2, 2025, acquitted him of the most serious counts—racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking, which could have resulted in life imprisonment—but convicted him on two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. These convictions related to arranging for individuals, including former girlfriends Casandra “Cassie” Ventura and another woman identified as “Jane,” to travel across state lines for drug-fueled sexual encounters involving paid male escorts, which Combs allegedly orchestrated and recorded.
On October 3, 2025, U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian sentenced Combs to 50 months (four years and two months) in federal prison, along with a $500,000 fine and five years of supervised release. The judge rebuked Combs for the abusive nature of the conduct and rejected defense arguments for leniency, noting the “overwhelming” evidence and Combs' lack of genuine remorse. Combs has maintained his innocence regarding the coercive aspects, with his team describing the encounters as consensual.
Following sentencing, Combs was initially held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn before being transferred in late October 2025 to the Federal Correctional Institution at Fort Dix in New Jersey, a low-security facility. He is projected for release in May 2028, accounting for time served and potential reductions through programs like substance abuse treatment.
Combs' legal team filed an expedited appeal in December 2025 with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, arguing the sentence was excessive and improperly influenced by acquitted conduct. They seek to vacate the convictions, grant a new trial, or order resentencing, claiming the judge acted as a “thirteenth juror” by emphasizing coercion not found by the jury.
Beyond the criminal case, Combs faces ongoing civil litigation, including new allegations of sexual assault. In late 2025, music producer Jonathan Hay publicly identified himself as one of the “John Does” in a July civil lawsuit against Combs, claiming assaults in 2020. Hay later deleted related online posts, and Los Angeles authorities opened an investigation. Combs' representatives have categorically denied all abuse claims as false and defamatory.
Tyson's involvement adds an intriguing layer, given his own history of incarceration (he served time for rape in the 1990s) and prior public support for Combs. In a 2024 interview, Tyson wished Combs “all the best” before the conviction. The boxer and Combs have long moved in overlapping celebrity circles, though Tyson has not commented publicly on the pardon delivery.
Trump's stance aligns with earlier remarks. In interviews throughout 2025, he recalled a once-friendly relationship with Combs but noted a shift to “hostile” after Combs criticized him during his political campaigns. Despite pardoning other high-profile figures in 2025, including reality TV stars Todd and Julie Chrisley, Trump has shown reluctance toward Combs, influenced by personal grievances and public backlash from supporters.
The pardon saga underscores the complexities of presidential clemency, often intertwined with personal connections, political calculations, and public perception. While Combs' appeal proceeds, experts note that pardons remain rare for federal convictions involving sexual misconduct, and Trump's rejection appears firm.
As Combs serves his sentence at Fort Dix, the focus shifts to his appellate efforts and the potential for further civil resolutions. The case continues to captivate public attention, highlighting intersections of celebrity, justice, and power in contemporary America.
