Sean “Diddy” Combs’ federal sex trafficking trial hasn’t reached a verdict, but associates close to the embattled hip-hop mogul have already begun pursuing a presidential pardon from Donald Trump, according to a new report from Rolling Stone.

Several longtime friends and allies of Combs have begun “making connections with the Trump team,” with the hopes of laying the groundwork for a presidential pardon if Combs is in fact found guilty of racketeering conspiracy, sex trafficking, and violating federal prostitution laws. If convicted, he could face between 15 years to life in prison.

Per Rolling Stone, Combs’ team is hoping to appeal to Trump by drawing a comparison between their shared stories — two successful businessmen allegedly targeted by federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York with “baseless” accusations of sexual assault. Combs and Trump have also reportedly maintained a friendly personal relationship for over a decade. Trump described Combs...