Trump Considers Pardon for Pras Michel, Fugee Convicted of Conspiracy and Corruption (Exclusive)

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According to The Hollywood Reporter, President Donald Trump is contemplating granting clemency to Pras Michel, the well-known hip-hop artist currently facing up to 22 years in prison on charges of federal conspiracy and corruption.

As a devoted fan, I find myself deeply engrossed in the unfolding of a massive global scandal that has even touched the glamorous world of Hollywood. This sprawling case, dubbed by the FBI as the “largest kleptocracy case to date,” has seen the prosecution of none other than Michel, the illustrious rapper-producer who gained fame as a member of The Fugees. This scandal has led to the downfall of the Malaysian prime minister, a high-ranking Goldman Sachs banker, and a significant Trump campaign fundraiser in its first term. Remarkably, it’s also ensnared other prominent figures, among them Leonardo DiCaprio, who found himself entangled with the alleged mastermind of this intricate web.

The White House did not provide a response when asked for a comment. On the other hand, Michel chose to stay silent regarding the issue. In a statement released by his publicist Erica Dumas, it was mentioned that Michel’s legal team is examining all possible options post-trial, expressing continued optimism about potential solutions moving forward. Notably, Michel has been actively challenging the outcome through allegations of incompetence against his trial attorney, who faced criticism for mishandling the closing arguments by misusing an AI program.

Michel’s clemency petition is being managed by attorney Adam Katz, who previously represented Rudy Giuliani in court cases stemming from Giuliani’s attempts to challenge the 2020 presidential election results as New York City’s former mayor and Trump’s advisor. More recently, Katz has aided Steve Bannon in his case of contempt of Congress for refusing to testify before the Jan. 6 committee. In the first term of the Trump administration, Katz successfully negotiated a commutation for a Southern California businesswoman who received a 26-month prison sentence for fraud. The sister made the first federal political donation to a Republican – $50,000 to Trump’s 2020 re-election campaign. Both siblings were later found guilty of another fraud charge.

Back in 1998, I, Donald Trump (who later became president), made an appearance on Michael’s first solo studio album, “Ghetto Supastar.” In one of the interludes, a voicemail of mine was played where I expressed my belief in Michael’s success, saying, “I have no doubt that you’re going to be a big success,” and added, “I hope very soon you’ll be on par with me in the leagues.” Fast forward to 2025, I find myself appealing a felony conviction at my campaign hush money trial. Michael and I share a unique history, one that spans from a shared stage to legal proceedings.

As a gamer, I’d put it this way: “After the guy leading the corruption investigation against Michel, Corey Amundson from the Justice Department, stepped down on January 27th, there have been whispers about a possible pardon. Some believe it might be a response from the Trump administration, who seemed to want to move Amundson away from his role due to his involvement in two key investigations: one regarding Trump’s handling of classified documents post-first term, and another concerning attempts to interfere with the 2020 election.

52-year-old Michel is at present waiting for sentencing after being found guilty on ten charges, which include witness tampering, conspiracy, and failing to register as an agent of China. His documentaries have focused on the homelessness crisis in L.A. (‘Skid Row’) and Haiti’s troubles (‘Sweet Micky for President’). The trial centered around his connection with businessman Jho Low, who is accused of swindling a Malaysian state investment fund known as 1MDB.

In the mid-2000s, the extravagant businessman, known for his nightlife exploits, first crossed paths with a high-profile celebrity. Later, the U.S. administration claimed that this individual, who was indicted under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, had acted as an intermediary, money launderer, and political manipulator on behalf of Low. This allegedly involved attempting to halt an ongoing Justice Department investigation into Low’s suspected financial wrongdoings. It’s also important to mention that this individual aided China, a supporter and protector of Low, in its efforts to extradite Guo Wengui, a U.S.-based critic of the Chinese government who had collaborated with Bannon on ventures critical of the Communist Party. (Guo has since been convicted in America for a separate large-scale fraud case.)

Michel expressed his fondness for spy films, yet made it clear he had no personal ambition to become a spy. However, he admitted to being a foreign agent technically,” Michel shared with Variety in November.

Originally from New Jersey, Michel maintains that all his actions were for the benefit of America. It is undeniable that his communications with a prominent Chinese Communist Party official resulted in the freedom of an American woman who was being held by the Chinese government as a pawn to compel her U.S.-residing mother, accused by Beijing of embezzlement, to return to China. According to one of Michel’s lawyers, Joel Denaro, this action deserves recognition. “He served his country well,” Denaro said.

Michel is not alone among notable figures in entertainment who have been implicated in the 1MDB scandal, also known as the Low scandal. Reports suggest that Jamie Foxx, Kim Kardashian, Fergie, Paris Hilton, and Pharrell Williams received various benefits from Low’s ill-gotten wealth. Leonardo DiCaprio, whose film “The Wolf of Wall Street” was funded with some of the embezzled funds, worked with the Justice Department’s investigation, returned Low’s gifts (including Marlon Brando’s Oscar for “On the Waterfront” and a first edition of “The Great Gatsby”), and later testified as a witness for the prosecution during Michel’s trial in April 2023. Similar actions were taken by model and actress Miranda Kerr, who returned millions of dollars worth of jewelry she had been given. More recently, music producer Swizz Beatz has faced a lawsuit alleging that he received stolen money through Low.

Individuals who attempted to sway Trump and his Justice Department on Low’s behalf are not currently facing lengthy sentences in federal prison. For example, Elliot Broidy, a significant donor to Trump and former deputy finance chair of the Republican National Committee, admitted to “back-channel lobbying” and acting as an unregistered foreign agent, but was granted a pardon by the president at the end of his first term in 2021. In another case, Steve Wynn, a prominent Republican megadonor and casino magnate with substantial business interests in Macao, the Chinese gambling hub, was not required to register as a foreign agent for his lobbying efforts regarding the Guo matter, according to a federal judge’s ruling.

The Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) was established in 1938, primarily to counter domestic political sabotage by foreign enemies during the rise of Nazism. Despite its infrequent application and ongoing debates among legal scholars about its boundaries, it has recently been employed more frequently as a means to combat perceived geopolitical dangers, particularly from Russia and China. In January, the prestigious law firm Cravath, Swain & Moore registered retroactively under FARA for their work with a Ukrainian company linked to Hunter Biden, following a scandal that preceded outgoing President Joe Biden granting a pardon to his son just weeks earlier.

Attorney Matthew T. Sanderson, who represents clients in FARA-related investigations, notes that the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) is quite extensive in scope. Historically, FARA has been used to combat individuals or groups perceived as adversarial to U.S. interests, such as supporters of the Irish Republican Army during the 1980s. Given Michel’s link to the Chinese government, this case may explain why the Justice Department took the actions it did: “The connection to the People’s Republic of China in this case could be a reason for their decision.

Paul Pelletier, a former prosecutor at the Justice Department for several decades, considers Michel an appealing figure for investigation. As he puts it, “Federal authorities find celebrities alluring because they generate media attention,” and Pras was likened to the tiny ant on the enormous elephant of Jho Low. What might be even more significant is that Michel declined to collaborate. According to Pelletier, Michel essentially told the government to mind their own business, a response the government doesn’t appreciate.

Michel’s attorney, Denaro, argues that the situation is straightforward: “In my opinion, he finds himself in this legal predicament due to him choosing to exercise his right to a trial, and unfortunately, he didn’t win.

Now Trump, the fellow convict, may grant Michel his freedom.

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2025-01-31 00:28