A judge has rejected a motion for a new trial in the high-profile political conspiracy case involving rapper Prakazrel “Pras” Michel of the Fugees. The ruling was made by U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, who determined that the defense attorney's use of a generative AI program during closing arguments and other alleged errors did not constitute a serious miscarriage of justice.
Michel was found guilty on 10 counts following a trial in Washington D.C., where witnesses such as actor Leonardo DiCaprio and former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions testified. The charges against Michel stem from accusations of funneling money from a Malaysian financier through straw donors to support Barack Obama's 2012 reelection campaign. Additionally, he was accused of attempting to obstruct a Justice Department investigation and influence an extradition case on behalf of China during the Trump administration.
The defense contended that Michel had received poor advice while navigating the realm of politics as he sought to support himself and undergo a reinvention. His former defense attorney, known for representing prominent figures in the music industry, later pleaded guilty to leaking grand jury information to the media.
Michel's new attorney argued that his predecessor had committed several errors, including the use of an “experimental” generative AI program that allegedly misattributed lyrics from Michel's influential 1990s group during closing arguments. However, Judge Kollar-Kotelly determined that these mistakes did not unduly influence the jury's decision.
While acknowledging that some of the errors raised by Michel's new attorney had merit, the judge ultimately found that they did not undermine the substantial evidence presented by the prosecution or render the nearly month-long trial unfair.
Michel, who faces a potential prison sentence of up to 20 years on the top charges, is currently free on bail pending sentencing, which has yet to be scheduled. A spokesperson for Michel did not immediately respond to requests for comment following the court's decision.
