Pras Michel Convicted on 10 Felony Counts
Pras Michel, a rapper and producer who was part of the popular hip-hop group in the 90s, the Fugees, has been found guilty on ten felony counts, including acting as an unregistered foreign agent of China, conspiring to make illegal campaign contributions, and witness tampering. Michel had pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Michel’s Relationship with Jho Low
Michel’s relationship with Jho Low, who has yet to be arrested, involved spending lavishly on an extravagant lifestyle and famous friends. Michel gave $800,000 to friends, so they could donate in their names and gain access to exclusive, $40,000-per-seat Obama fundraisers in Miami and Washington, D.C. However, he reiterated his belief that the money was his to spend.
The charges stem from his relationship with Malaysian billionaire Jho Low, who is separately accused of embezzling billions from a Malaysian sovereign wealth fund between 2009 and 2014. During his trial, Michel told jurors that he did receive $20 million from Low in 2012, but he maintained that the large sums of money were not meant to be illegal foreign campaign contributions or payment for his services.
Michel’s Lobbying with Low
During his trial, Pras Michel admitted to working with Jho Low in 2017 to lobby the Trump administration. Their efforts focused on two objectives: persuading the Justice Department to abandon its investigation of Low regarding the 1MDB scandal, and advocating for the arrest and extradition of a Chinese dissident living in the United States on behalf of Chinese officials. Michel claimed that he was never informed that he needed to register as a foreign agent for his involvement in this lobbying work.
Witness Tampering Charges
Prosecutors argued that Michel sent letters to some of his friends, who had been contacted by the FBI, claiming that the money he gave them was a loan and threatening legal action if it was not repaid. These letters were meant to intimidate potential witnesses to prevent them from cooperating with investigators.
Michel’s conviction is a significant legal setback for him and highlights the potential dangers of working with foreign entities. Additionally, this case is a reminder of the need for transparency and compliance with campaign finance laws.
