Former President Donald Trump is considering pardoning Pras Michel, founding member of The Fugees, who faces 22 years in prison for his involvement in the 1MDB scandal.

Photo Credit: Pras Michel for Miami Film Festival / CC by 2.0

Michel was convicted on 10 counts, including conspiracy, witness tampering, and failing to register as an agent of China. These charges stem from his connection to fugitive businessman Jho Low, who allegedly defrauded Malaysia's 1MDB sovereign wealth fund.

The potential pardon appears politically motivated, following the resignation of Corey Amundson, former head of the Justice Department's public corruption unit, who prosecuted Michel. Amundson resigned after the Trump administration attempted to reassign him in retaliation for his involvement in Trump-related investigations.

Trump and Michel share a surprising historical connection. In 1998, Trump made a cameo on Michel's solo album "Ghetto Supastar," leaving a voicemail saying, "I have no doubt that you're going to be a big success" and expressing hope that Michel would join "the leagues with me."

Michel's legal team, led by Adam Katz (who previously represented Rudy Giuliani), is "exploring all available options" according to his publicist, Erica Dumas. The appeal partly rests on claims of incompetence by Michel's trial attorney, who notably misused AI during closing arguments.

The 1MDB scandal, described by the FBI as the "largest kleptocracy case to date," has implicated numerous high-profile figures, including a Malaysian prime minister, Goldman Sachs executives, and even drew in celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio through connections with Jho Low.

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