Fugees rapper in political conspiracy trial launches defence
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A Fugees rapper on trial in a multimillion-dollar campaign finance and foreign influence case was trying to reinvent himself as he entered the political arena, not break any laws, defence attorneys said Monday.
A Fugees rapper on trial in a multimillion-dollar campaign finance and foreign influence case was trying to reinvent himself as he entered the political arena, not break any laws, defence attorneys said Monday.
Prakazrel "Pras" Michel became a best-selling, Grammy-winning artist with the 1990s hip-hop group the Fugees, but in the years after its breakup was looking for his next chapter, attorney David Kenner said as he began making the defence case.
Michel surrounded himself with people to help with his transition to politics and eventually entered the orbit of a wealthy Malaysian "playboy" but didn't engage in "James Bond … cloak and dagger stuff," he said.
"There was no agreement to do anything in an unlawful way," Kenner said.
Michel is charged in political conspiracies under two different U.S. presidents. Federal prosecutors say he funneled money from the fugitive Malaysian financer through straw donors to Barack Obama's 2012 re-election campaign. He's also accused of trying to squelch an investigation into the businessman and persuade then-President Donald Trump's administration to return to China a "vocal critic of the government."
The Justice Department says Michel conspired with Low Taek Jho, usually known as Jho Low. The fugitive financier is accused of masterminding a money laundering and bribery scheme that pilfered billions from the Malaysian state investment fund known as 1MDB. Low has maintained his innocence.
Looted money paid for jewelry and luxury art and helped finance Hollywood films like "The Wolf of Wall Street." Actor Leonardo DiCaprio testified that Low had appeared to him to be a legitimate businessman and had mentioned wanting to donate to Obama's campaign.
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