In a decisive move, US President Donald Trump has publicly rejected appeals for presidential clemency from several high-profile figures, including hip-hop mogul Sean 'Diddy' Combs and deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. The declarations came during an interview with The New York Times published on Thursday, January 8, 2026.
Trump Firm on Denying Diddy's Pardon Request
President Trump confirmed that Sean 'Diddy' Combs, who is currently serving a four-year federal prison sentence, had written to him seeking a pardon. The President stated he was "not inclined" to approve the request. Combs, the 56-year-old music executive, was convicted in July last year on two counts of transporting individuals across state lines for prostitution. A jury had earlier acquitted him of more severe charges, including sex trafficking and racketeering.
Maduro, Bankman-Fried, and Menendez Also Ruled Out
Expanding his list of denials, Trump explicitly ruled out clemency for other notable inmates. When questioned about Nicolas Maduro, the Venezuelan leader recently seized by US forces and now facing drug trafficking charges, Trump's response was blunt: "No, I don't see that."
The President also indicated no plans to pardon Sam Bankman-Fried, the former cryptocurrency entrepreneur serving a 25-year sentence for fraud, or former Democratic senator Robert Menendez, who is serving an 11-year term for accepting bribes.
Selective Pardons and a Pattern of Clemency
This stance contrasts with Trump's history of granting clemency in specific cases. In November, he pardoned former Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández, who was sentenced to 45 years in prison on drug charges. Furthermore, on his inauguration day, Trump issued over 1,500 pardons to individuals connected to the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack and has since granted clemency to several political allies.
When asked about the possibility of pardoning Derek Chauvin, the former police officer convicted of murdering George Floyd in 2020, Trump noted, "I haven't been asked about it," according to the Times report. This indicates the question is not currently under active consideration.
The President's latest comments solidify a clear boundary on his pardon power, shutting the door for now on some of the most widely discussed clemency appeals in the public sphere.
