A prominent rapper is disputing that he did anything wrong amid Justice Department allegations that he aided efforts to end a U.S. investigation of Malaysian government corruption, saying his name is being “dragged through the mud.”
Prakazrel “Pras” Michel, who rose to fame in the 1990s as a member of the hip-hop group Fugees, broadly denied “any allegations leveled against” him in the case and noted he was not facing any criminal charges. He issued the statement late Tuesday.
The Justice Department last week alleged in a civil forfeiture complaint that Michel helped move money to fund a lobbying campaign, which unsuccessfully tried to shut down the ongoing probe into embezzlement and bribery surrounding a Malaysian state development fund.
“I have never conspired to commit any crime, nor defraud any organization, in this case or otherwise,” Michel said in a statement. “It is a shame that anyone’s name should be dragged through the mud like this, particularly another Black man who uses his voice and influence to effect change.” Continue reading