Ex Fugees star Prakazrel ‘Pras’ Michel has appeared in court accused of being involved in a multi-million dollar ‘influence scheme’.
The 50-year-old rapper has been accused of taking money $100m (£81.4m) from the notorious Malaysian businessman Jho Low to make ‘illegal contributions’ to a political campaign in an attempt to encourage US officials to abandon a federal fraud investigation into Low's business dealings.
Michel faces numerous charges including conspiracy and witness tampering, however, he denies all wrongdoing.
Prosecutors claim that Michel brought ‘secret, illegal foreign influence to bear’ between 2012 and 2017 - during both the Barack Obama and Donald Trump administrations.
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Low, 41, is also accused of stealing around $4bn from his country's sovereign wealth fund in the 1Malaysia Development Berhad scandal, according to US authorities.
Low is a fugitive on the run from the law and currently believed to be in China - so he is not appearing in US court, meaning Michel is standing trial alone.
The musician is also accused of taking money to help try and persuade US officials to allow extradition of US-based dissident Guo Wengui back to China.
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Speaking in court, prosecutor Nicole Lockhart said: "This is a case about foreign money, foreign influence and concealment.
"The defendant wanted money and was willing to break any laws necessary to get paid."
Lockhart also said the case was ‘filled with political intrigue, backroom dealing … burner phones and lies’.
She added: “The defendant needed money and was willing to do anything to get it, including being an agent of the Chinese government.”
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Michel’s defence attorney David Kenner - who'd previously defended Snoop Dogg in his 1996 murder trial that ended in an acquittal - declined to make an opening statement and is reserving the right to make one after the prosecution rests its case.
According to court documents, Kenner has argued that Michel was 'acting in US interests' and was not operating as a foreign agent.
Speaking to Rolling Stone prior to his indictment, Michel said: “What benefit would I get trying to break laws? It’s not worth it to me.
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“I’m like a pariah now. I’ve got friends who won’t talk to me because they think there’s a satellite in orbit listening to them.”
The case could have a slew of high profile potential witnesses including Leonardo DiCaprio, former Trump chief of staff John Kelly and former Trump national security adviser, H.R. McMaster.
The trial is expected to run throughout April, with each side expected to call around 30 witnesses.
Claire Reid