The Fugees’ Pras Decides To Testify In His Own Federal Conspiracy Trial
On Tuesday (April 18), Fugees member Pras Michel reportedly took the witness stand in Washington D.C.’s federal courthouse to defend himself in a multimillion-dollar international fraud trial.
"After consulting with my attorneys and the universe, I have decided to testify," Pras told the court prior to answering questions from his defense team and prosecutors, according to CNN. He is accused of taking approximately $800,000 he claims to have paid to friends so they could donate to a political campaign.
Prosecutors allege the 50-year-old Grammy winner plunged into the world of American politics, doing the bidding for a wealthy Malaysian financier to gain access, wealth and use his influence. In 2019, he was indicted on federal charges that Low Taek Jho paid him millions of dollars to help launder money Low had allegedly embezzled from a state-owned investment fund in his home country.
Jury Selection Begins In Pras Federal Trial On Conspiracy Charges
“I looked at it as free money,” Pras said of the funds given to him by Low. He pleaded not guilty to charges of conspiracy, witness tampering and failing to register as acting on the behalf of a foreign agent.
On Tuesday, Pras reportedly testified that Low asked him in 2012 to set up a picture of himself and then-President Barack Obama, which Pras allegedly asked for $1 million for and that he would think about how to make that happen.
“I thought that I could just give my friends” money to contribute to the campaign, Pras told the jury. “I gave my money to these people to make the donations,” he added, according to CNN. “I had some friends who didn’t donate and kept the money.”
Between $700,000 and $800,000 of the money went to friends of Michel who then donated it to the Obama Victory Fund committee, Pras testified.
Prosecutors do not allege Obama campaign officials were aware of the purported illegal payments. Low ultimately did get his photo with Obama, which was taken after the 2012 presidential election at the White House.
Additionally, Pras testified that he wasn’t informed that such payments toward political donations could have been unlawful or violated campaign finance laws.
