University of St. Thomas School of Law Professor Mark Osler spoke to Billboard and Music Times about how the legal team of rapper Sean “Diddy” Combs is strategizing to petition for a presidential pardon. Combs could serve up to 20 years after being convicted on two counts of transporting people for prostitution.
From the story:
Mark Osler, a clemency attorney and law professor at the University of St. Thomas, explained that in past administrations, lawyers filed forms with the Department of Justice’s Pardon Attorney, and applications went through multiple review levels. “The mechanism is falling apart. It’s fair to say many people are confused about what the process is now,” Osler said.
Despite these arguments, the path remains uncertain. Osler noted, “Historically, sex crimes have kind of been the third rail of clemency. Almost never have you seen grants for them.” Trump’s team would also need to weigh potential political fallout, given the scrutiny surrounding both Diddy’s trial and the former president’s previous associations.
