Mike Tyson Questions '110-Year-Old Rule' in Diddy Case, Says He Helped Deliver Trump Letter

Mike Tyson has questioned a '110-year-old rule' used against Sean 'Diddy' Combs and confirmed helping pass a letter to President Donald Trump.

The former heavyweight boxing champion made the remarks on Thursday during SiriusXM's Andy Cohen Live and expressed surprise that prosecutors used longstanding legislation in the music mogul's criminal case.

He said Combs had asked him to deliver a letter to the president and confirmed he acted on the request. However, Tyson did not explain whether he personally handed the message to Trump.

The interview followed Combs' conviction in July 2025 on two federal counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.

He was acquitted of racketeering conspiracy and sex-trafficking charges and subsequently sentenced to 50 months in prison. His legal team also approached the Trump administration to seek presidential clemency.

Mike Tyson Questions '110-Year-Old Rule' Behind Diddy's Conviction

During the interview, Andy Cohen asked Tyson whether he had been surprised by the outcome of Combs' criminal case. 'Listen, I was surprised that they went through so many lengths to get him,' Tyson replied.

The former heavyweight champion then questioned prosecutors' reliance on what he described as a '110 year old rule to get him'. 'Can you imagine that?' he asked Cohen.

Tyson also referred to an old 'case' during the exchange, although he did not identify a specific court ruling or legal precedent. His comments appeared to refer to the Mann Act, the federal law under which Combs was convicted of two transportation-for-prostitution offences.

Originally enacted on 25 June 1910, the legislation prohibits certain forms of transportation for prostitution and other unlawful sexual activity. It has undergone several amendments since its introduction. The law was therefore 116 years old when Tyson made his remarks, not precisely 110.

Tyson did not name the Mann Act or offer a detailed legal argument challenging its application. He focused on his surprise that prosecutors relied on such longstanding legislation. Combs' convictions remain in effect, despite his acquittal on the more serious charges.

Mike Tyson Confirms Helping Diddy With Letter to Donald Trump

Cohen also asked Tyson about his relationship with Combs and whether the two had stayed in contact after the rapper's imprisonment.

Tyson described himself as 'friendly with Puff', referring to Combs by one of his former stage names. The boxer said they had spoken once by telephone and revealed that Combs had asked him to perform a favour involving Trump.

'He wanted me to give a letter to the president,' Tyson told Cohen. When the presenter asked whether he had followed through, Tyson replied, 'I did what he told me to do. Yes.'

The remarks marked Tyson's public acknowledgement of his involvement in the letter request, although he did not disclose its contents.

His account followed earlier reporting by The US Sun that he had personally delivered a pardon request to Trump during a White House visit in November 2025.

The publication cited unnamed sources who claimed Tyson was initially uncomfortable getting involved but eventually agreed to help. One source alleged that the former boxer had felt nervous about approaching the president with the letter.

Tyson did not discuss those reported concerns during the Cohen interview. He also provided no details establishing whether he had personally handed the letter to Trump.

Mike Tyson's Admission Draws Attention to Diddy's Pardon Request

Trump had previously acknowledged that Combs sought presidential clemency following his federal conviction. During a January 2026 interview with The New York Times, the president said the rapper had 'asked me for a pardon' through a letter. However, Trump indicated at the time that he was not considering granting the request.

The two men previously moved in overlapping celebrity circles, but their relationship later deteriorated after Combs publicly criticised Trump. Combs remains at the Federal Correctional Institution in Fort Dix, New Jersey, serving his 50-month prison sentence.

He also received a $500,000 (£377,929) fine and five years of supervised release. The rapper was found guilty of two prostitution-related transportation offences but acquitted of racketeering conspiracy and two sex-trafficking counts.

Tyson's latest remarks do not establish that Trump's position on a pardon has changed. Nor do they confirm whether the letter discussed during the interview was the same correspondence the president previously acknowledged.

For now, Tyson has publicly confirmed that Combs asked him for help and that he complied. The interview did not disclose the letter's contents, the circumstances of its delivery, or any subsequent response from Trump.