Pras Michel Accused Of Trying To Get Trump Administration To Drop Federal Investigation

BY Erika Marie 1.9K Views
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Years ago, Pras and a Malaysian financier Jho Low were accused of and charged in connection with laundering tens of millions into the U.S.

The ongoing probe into Pras Michel has taken a turn, and it now involves the Trump administration. The Fugees icon was hit with major legal troubles years ago when he was accused of helping Jho Low, a Malaysian financier, funnel millions of dollars into the United States to help former President Barack Obama's campaign. The funds were said to have been just a portion of the billions of dollars that Low alleged conspired to embezzle from 1Malaysia Development Berhard, a company owned by the government of Malaysia.

Pras has denied wrongdoing in this federal case but CNBC reports that the rapper, along with Low, has been hit with new charges. The men have reportedly been accused "of running a back-channel campaign to get the Trump administration to drop an investigation of Low and the 1MDB investment company and to have a Chinese dissident returned to China."

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While Pras's location is known by the government, Low has been M.I.A. The fugitive is on the run from authorities, although he's believed to be in China, and investigators believe that both Low and Pras may have schemed to get themselves off the hook with the help of former President Donald Trump.

The indictment issued Thursday by a grand jury in Washington accuses Low and Michel of conspiring with Broidy, a woman named Nickie Lum Davis and others “to engage in undisclosed lobbying campaigns at the direction of Low and the Vice Minister of Public Security for the People’s Republic of China, respectively,” according to the Justice Department.

Pras and Low are now also facing money laundering conspiracy charges while Pras was also tacked with "witness tampering and conspiracy to make false statements." Check out Pras discussing his case back in 2019 below.

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About The Author
Since 2019, Erika Marie has worked as a journalist for HotNewHipHop, covering music, film, television, art, fashion, politics, and all things regarding entertainment. With 20 years in the industry under her belt, Erika Marie moved from a writer on the graveyard shift at HNHH to becoming a Features Editor, highlighting long-form content and interviews with some of Hip Hop’s biggest stars. She has had the pleasure of sitting down with artists and personalities like DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt ’N Pepa, Nick Cannon, Rah Digga, Rakim, Rapsody, Ari Lennox, Jacquees, Roxanne Shante, Yo-Yo, Sean Paul, Raven Symoné, Queen Naija, Ryan Destiny, DreamDoll, DaniLeigh, Sean Kingston, Reginae Carter, Jason Lee, Kamaiyah, Rome Flynn, Zonnique, Fantasia, and Just Blaze—just to name a few. In addition to one-on-one chats with influential public figures, Erika Marie also covers content connected to the culture. She’s attended and covered the BET Awards as well as private listening parties, the Rolling Loud festival, and other events that emphasize established and rising talents. Detroit-born and Long Beach (CA)-raised, Erika Marie has eclectic music taste that often helps direct the interests she focuses on here at HNHH. She finds it necessary to report on cultural conversations with respect and honor those on the mic and the hardworking teams that help get them there. Moreover, as an advocate for women, Erika Marie pays particular attention to the impact of femcees. She sits down with rising rappers for HNHH—like Big Jade, Kali, Rubi Rose, Armani Caesar, Amy Luciani, and Omerettà—to gain their perspectives on a fast-paced industry.