Jury selection in the federal trial of former Fugees rapper Pras Michel began Monday.
The rapper is accused of making 2012 campaign donations to groups backing then-President Barack Obama without disclosing that the money came from Malaysian billionaire Jho Low. Prosecutors allege that Low funneled more than $21 million to Michel, who in turn used straw donors to make the campaign donations to pro-Obama groups.
Prosecutors allege that the scheme continued into the Trump administration & that Michel used some of the money Low sent to fund a campaign aimed at stopping a DOJ investigation into Low’s alleged role in embezzling billions of dollars from a Malaysian wealth fund, 1MDB.
Attorneys read a list of more than 40 individuals who could be called to testify in the case.
The list also includes Trump allies such as Rudy Giuliani, Steve Bannon and Republican megadonor Steve Wynn as well as ex-government officials like former Attorney General Jeff Sessions & former national security adviser H.R. McMaster.
Defense lawyers listed individuals & companies that could be referred to in the trial, including celebrities Jim Carrey, Jamie Foxx, Britney Spears, Martin Scorsese & Mark Wahlberg, activist Jesse Jackson, as well as a former prime minister of Malaysia, his wife & Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The possible witnesses listed above are not accused of wrongdoing.
Several people tied to the alleged plot have pleaded guilty to federal charges, including former Justice Department employee George Higginbotham, Republican fundraiser Elliott Broidy & Broidy’s business associate Nickie Lum Davis. Former President Donald Trump pardoned Broidy just before leaving office in January 2021.
If convicted, Michel could face decades in prison. Low, who was also indicted, remains at large & is believed to be in China.
#pras #prasmichel #prasconspiracytrial #feds #federalcharges #fbi #barackobama #jholow #donaldtrump #jamiefoxx #presidentialcampaign #fugees #wyclef #laurynhill #xijinping #china #malaysia #britneyspears #martinscorsese #jimcarrey #markwahlberg #jessejackson #elliotbroidy #mrmcmaster #stevebannon #rudygiuliani #stevewynn #jeffsessions #embezzlement #1mbd
Source: CNN
Follow Me
}
Comments