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Daily Mirror
11 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
Trump makes decision on pardoning P Diddy after conviction
Donald Trump has said he is unlikely to pardon Sean 'Diddy' Combs following the music mogul's conviction for transportation to engage in prostitution, In an interview with Newsmax on Friday, the former president addressed speculation that he might offer Combs a presidential pardon, revealing he had been 'seriously considering' the possibility. However, Trump ultimately suggested the answer would be 'more likely a no'. 'Well he was essentially, sort of, half-innocent. I don't know what they do that he's still in jail or something,' Trump said. 'He was celebrating a victory but I guess it wasn't as good a victory.' EAD MORE: Sharon Osbourne breaks down in tears at Ozzy's funeral in heartbreaking scenes. READ MORE: Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are set for new 'goldmine' offer - but could face issue. Combs, 55, was acquitted earlier this month of sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy charges related to ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura and another woman referred to as Jane. But he was found guilty on two federal counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, which was a violation of the Mann Act, and now faces up to 10 years in prison. His sentencing is scheduled for October 3. Trump recalls having a friendly rapport with Combs in the past as they were both prominent figures in New York. But he claimed that their relationship soured after Trump entered politics, pointing to Combs' vocal support of Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential race. 'When I ran for office he was very hostile,' Trump told interviewer Rob Finnerty. 'He made some terrible statements, so I don't know — it makes it more difficult to do.' When he was pressed on whether a pardon was off the table, Trump replied: 'I'd say so.' Behind the scenes, sources previously indicated that the idea of a pardon had moved beyond idle talk and was being taken seriously by the Trump team. One insider told Deadline it had progressed from 'just another Trump weave to an actionable event'. Combs' legal team has already filed for either an acquittal or a retrial. In a strongly worded motion, his lawyers argued that his conviction under the Mann Act was unprecedented and should be overturned. 'This verdict is unsound. And this conviction, rooted in a misapplied, overbroad statute, should not stand,' they wrote, and maintained that all parties involved in the so-called 'Freak-Offs' were consenting adults and that no commercial sex acts had taken place. They also claimed that Combs' activities were in the same vein as producing amateur adult films for private viewing, and therefore protected by the First Amendment. 'The men were paid for their time,' the motion continued. 'They enjoyed the activities and had friendships with Ms. Ventura and Jane and were not merely traveling to have sex for money.' If a full acquittal isn't granted, Combs' attorneys argue a retrial should be ordered due to 'severe spillover prejudice' from the inclusion of inflammatory evidence during the trial, including surveillance footage from a 2016 incident showing Combs physically assaulting Ventura. Combs remains in custody at a Brooklyn detention centre.
Scotsman
13 minutes ago
- Scotsman
Swinney brands Gaza crisis ‘genocide' after Fringe show disrupted
The First Minister's show at The Stand was disrupted by pro-Palestinian protesters on Saturday afternoon. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... First Minister John Swinney has described the ongoing crisis in Gaza as a 'genocide' after a Fringe show he appeared at was repeatedly disrupted by pro-Palestinian protesters. Police were called to the Stand Comedy Club in Edinburgh after the First Minister was interrupted seven times by six different groups of protesters during a conversation with comedian Susan Morrison. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The protesters urged the First Minister to describe the crisis as a genocide and stop state funding for arms companies. Speaking to journalists after the event, the First Minister said: 'It's quite clear that there is a genocide in Palestine – it can't be disputed. 'I have seen reports of terrible atrocities which have the character of being genocide. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I've expressed that and obviously it's not reached all those individuals, but that's my feeling.' The Scottish Government has also been criticised for – while not funding directly the manufacturing of munitions – providing money for apprenticeships at firms which build weapons. But the First Minister said the Government's commercial arm Scottish Enterprise has the 'strictest assessments imaginable about the purpose and the use of public expenditure in companies who may be related to defence industries'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Pushed on providing money for staff who could potentially build munitions, the First Minister added: 'We're trying to enable companies to diversify their activities, that's the purpose. 'That's why the due diligence checks are applied and they are applied unreservedly.' Throughout the show, groups of attendees stood up, holding signs which spelled the word 'genocide', and heckled the First Minister. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad As the event continued, the interruptions became more forceful, before two groups stood at the same time, angrily shouting at the First Minister and chanting slogans such as 'call it genocide'. Members of his security team stood in front of the stage, stopping protesters from approaching the First Minister, before three uniformed police officers arrived at the venue to usher the protesters out. During the tense exchange, which lasted several minutes, a number of the crowd – who were not protesting – appeared to be in tears. A final disruption came from one woman in the crowd, who asked the First Minister why he had not responded to her letter about heavy metal band Disturbed playing at the Hydro in Glasgow. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The band's lead singer David Draiman has been criticised after being pictured signing an Israeli bomb. The woman asked the First Minister why he did not speak out on Disturbed playing at the city's biggest venue, when he said it would be inappropriate for Irish band Kneecap to play the TRNSMT festival after comments members of the band had made about Tory MPs. The First Minister said his comments on Kneecap had come due to questions from the media and he 'didn't particularly' want to speak about the band earlier this year, adding that he did not want to choose what art people do and do not consume.
The National
27 minutes ago
- The National
John Swinney brands Gaza as ‘genocide' for first time
Police were called to the Stand Comedy Club in Edinburgh after Swinney was interrupted seven times by six different groups of protesters during a conversation with comedian Susan Morrison. It comes after a Fringe show the First Minister appeared at on Saturday was repeatedly disrupted by pro-Palestinian protesters. The protesters urged the First Minister to describe the crisis as a genocide and stop state funding for arms companies. READ MORE: Police remove pro-Palestine protesters from John Swinney's Edinburgh Fringe show Speaking to journalists after the event, the First Minister said: 'It's quite clear that there is a genocide in Palestine – it can't be disputed. 'I have seen reports of terrible atrocities which have the character of being genocide. 'I've expressed that and obviously it's not reached all those individuals, but that's my feeling.' The National understands this is the first time that Swinney has publicly described Israel's genocide in Gaza as a "genocide". The Scottish Government has also been criticised for – while not funding directly the manufacturing of munitions – providing money for apprenticeships at firms which build weapons. (Image: PA/Wires) But the First Minister said the Government's commercial arm Scottish Enterprise has the 'strictest assessments imaginable about the purpose and the use of public expenditure in companies who may be related to defence industries'. Pushed on providing money for staff who could potentially build munitions, the First Minister added: 'We're trying to enable companies to diversify their activities, that's the purpose. 'That's why the due diligence checks are applied and they are applied unreservedly.' Throughout the show, groups of attendees stood up, holding signs which spelled the word 'genocide', and heckled the First Minister. As the event continued, the interruptions became more forceful, before two groups stood at the same time, angrily shouting at the First Minister and chanting slogans such as 'call it genocide'. Members of his security team stood in front of the stage, stopping protesters from approaching the First Minister, before three uniformed police officers arrived at the venue to usher the protesters out. During the tense exchange, which lasted several minutes, a number of the crowd – who were not protesting – appeared to be in tears. A final disruption came from one woman in the crowd, who asked the First Minister why he had not responded to her letter about heavy metal band Disturbed playing at the Hydro in Glasgow. The band's lead singer David Draiman has been criticised after being pictured signing an Israeli bomb. The woman asked the First Minister why he did not speak out on Disturbed playing at the city's biggest venue, when he said it would be inappropriate for Irish band Kneecap to play the TRNSMT festival after comments members of the band had made about Tory MPs. The First Minister said his comments on Kneecap had come due to questions from the media and he 'didn't particularly' want to speak about the band earlier this year, adding that he did not want to choose what art people do and do not consume. The woman became increasingly angry with the First Minister's response and was eventually dragged from the venue by a police officer, whom she branded a 'thug'.
