Rapper Pras Michel seeks Trump, Obama testimony at his trial

Authorities indicted Michel in 2019 in connection with a scheme involving a Malaysian businessman Jho Low that allegedly resulted in the illicit transfer of $21 million to Obama's 2012 campaign.

By Ben Whedon

Published: January 19, 2023 8:11pm

Updated: January 19, 2023 8:46pm

Rapper Pras Michel of The Fugees hopes to secure the testimony of former Presidents Donald Trump and Barack Obama at his upcoming trail for campaign-finance violations, witness tampering and foreign-agent charges.

In a Tuesday video hearing with the U.S. District Court in Washington, Michel's attorney David Kenner said his team was planning to issue subpoenas to both former heads of state that same day, according to Politico. He did not specify what testimony either man might give but asserted the necessity of their appearances.

The Department of Justice, meanwhile, will call former National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster and Ricky Waddell, one of his deputies.

Authorities indicted Michel in 2019 in connection with a scheme involving Malaysian businessman Jho Low that allegedly resulted in the illicit transfer of $21 million to Obama's 2012 campaign. That scheme allegedly evolved into an influence operation that attempted to stop the Trump DOJ from investigating 1MDB, Malaysia's sovereign wealth fund, the outlet reported. Michel has pleaded not guilty.

Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly has set the trial start date for March 27 and indicated she would not postpone the trial even if either former president attempts to block their subpoenas.