Federal prosecutors said during opening comments in a case involving a founding member of the 1990 legendary hip-hop group the Fugees that he was involved in political plots involving millions of dollars in foreign currency under two separate US presidents. The trial is anticipated to go on for several weeks.
Prakazrel “Pras” Michel is charged with using phony donors to transfer money to Barack Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign from a fugitive Malaysian financier. Five years later, according to the prosecution, he allegedly attempted to thwart an inquiry into the financier and convince the administration of then-President Donald Trump to allow him to return to China as a “vocal critic of the government.”
- Advertisement -
Prosecutor Nicole Rae Lockhart stated that “this case is about foreign money, foreign influence, and concealment.” She added that in the scandal involving “political intrigue, backroom dealing,… burner phones, and lies,” Michel made off with more than $100 million”.
Michel’s attorneys had already declared their client to be innocent and that they are “Extremely disappointed” by the allegations, but they postponed making their opening statement.
Low Taek Jho, also known as Jho Low, is accused of conspiring with Michel, according to the Department of Justice. The fugitive financier is charged with orchestrating a plot to steal billions from Malaysia’s 1MDB state investment fund through money laundering and bribes.
The proceeds of theft were used to purchase jewelry, expensive artwork, and Hollywood productions like The Wolf of Wall Street.
Leonardo DiCaprio, a potential witness in the case, and Kim Kardashian were two American celebrities with whom Low formerly had business and social relationships. Prosecutors claim that Low gave Michel more than $20 million during the 2012 election cycle and that Michel hid its source by distributing it to fictitious donors who contributed to the Obama campaign. Later, according to Lockhart, he attempted to pressure the contributors into not speaking to the investigators.
The Grammy-winning musician allegedly collaborated with a Republican “fixer” in 2017 to try to thwart a US inquiry into Low and the theft of money from the Malaysian fund. He is also charged with pressuring the Trump administration to deport a Chinese national who had fled to the US.
“It almost worked,” Lockhart noted. “The defendant wanted money and was willing to break any laws necessary to get paid.”
Last year, the Justice Department unveiled charges against Low and two former Goldman Sachs bankers for their roles in a plot to steal money from the fund—which was established to support economic development initiatives in Malaysia—by bribing officials. Low is on the run but continues to assert his innocence.
Roger Ng, one of the bankers, received a 10-year prison term this month for his part in the plan.
