Hip-hop musician Pras Michel of Fugees faces criminal trial in Washington, D.C., for allegedly conspiring to violate election law and influence American policymakers on behalf of China.
Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty ImagesMusician Pras Michel in a 2015 portrait taken in Los Angeles.Jury selection in the trial of Grammy-winning musician Pras Michel kicks off today in the federal courthouse in Washington D.C., marking a pivotal moment in a case filled with allegations of political maneuvering and international intrigue.
At the center of the case is a billionaire named Jho Low, who allegedly bilked Malaysia's sovereign wealth fund of billions of dollars to fill his own pockets and curry favor with celebrities and American presidents. Low is a fugitive from justice believed to be in China, so Michel is standing trial on his own.
The second plan allegedly involved a secret lobbying campaign to help the billionaire Low lean on American justice officials and White House officials when his fraud scheme unraveled – and to help the Chinese government"secure the return" of a dissident who was living inside the U.S. and developing close ties with former Trump adviser Steve Bannon.
A number of people tied to Michel's far-flung alleged plan already have pleaded guilty or secured immunity from the government including George Higginbotham, a former Justice Department lawyer moonlighting on work for Michel while he served in the government.
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