March 7, 2025
Fugees’ Pras Hopes The Homie Trump Will Grant Him A Federal Pardon
The FBI labeled Pras’ case the 'largest kleptocracy case to date.'
Fugees rapper Prakazrel “Pras” Michel is urging President Donald Trump to “turn an eye” on him and issue a pardon in his 2023 federal fraud case.
“It’s not a secret we’re working on a pardon,” Michel said in a video posted by TMZ. “My team, we’re hopeful we’re gonna prevail. That’s all you can ask for…When you talk about lawfare and selective prosecution, [Trump and I] probably have that in common,” he said while sitting in a Lamborghini.
“We believe the last Justice Department was probably a little bit egregious. That’s what we have justice for. You just gotta trust the process.”
He added, “Obviously, I hope he turns an eye on me.”
Michel was found guilty following accusations that he participated in multimillion-dollar political conspiracies going back the last two presidencies.
According to Billboard, prosecutors alleged the hip-hop star was funneling money from a Malaysian financier through straw donors to Barack Obama’s 2012 campaign. He then was accused of influencing an extradition case involving China during Trump’s first term. Facing up to 22 years in prison, Michel was convicted of 10 counts, with charges listed as conspiracy, witness tampering, concealment of material facts, and not registering as an agent of a foreign power.
The talk of a pardon comes after Corey Amundson, the head of the Justice Department’s public corruption unit that prosecuted Pras, resigned on Jan. 27. It was alleged that the Trump administration tried to reassign Amundson in retaliation for his involvement in criminal investigations into Trump’s classified records retention after leaving the White House in 2021 and attempts to change the results of the 2020 presidential election.
Pras’ publicist Erica Dumas told The Hollywood Reporter that the star’s legal team “is exploring all available options following his case” while remaining “optimistic about potential paths forward.” Michel started an appeal process, arguing that his trial attorney was incompetent, accusing them of combining headlines for closing arguments through AI programs.
The FBI labeled Pras’ case as the “largest kleptocracy case to date,” taking down the Malaysian prime minister, a leading banker at Goldman Sachs, and a high-profile Trump fundraiser during the president’s first White House stint.
While pleading for his own reasons for a pardon, Michel also gave a “shout out” to fellow convicted rapper Tory Lanez, who was sentenced to 10 years behind bars for shooting Grammy Award-winner rapper Megan Thee Stallion. After saying “Free Tory Lanez,” the rapper said he hopes to meet with California Gov. Gavin Newsom to discuss terms of a pardon for Lanez.
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