Judge Dismisses AI-based Defense in Fugees Rapper Pras’s Conspiracy Case

WASHINGTON (AP) — A judge rejected a push for a new trial in a multimillion-dollar political conspiracy case against rapper Prakazrel “Pras” Michel of the Fugees on Friday.

U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly ruled that the defense attorney’s use of a generative AI program during closing arguments, along with other alleged errors during the Washington D.C. trial, did not constitute a serious miscarriage of justice.

Michel was found guilty on 10 counts after a jury heard testimony from notable witnesses, including actor Leonardo DiCaprio and former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions. He faces up to 20 years in prison on the top charges, although he remains free ahead of sentencing, which has not yet been set.

The Grammy-winning rapper was accused of funneling money from a now-fugitive Malaysian financer through straw donors to Barack Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign. Additionally, he was charged with attempting to interfere with a Justice Department investigation and influencing an extradition case on behalf of China under the Trump administration.

The defense argued that Michel received poor advice while he was trying to support himself and reinvent his role in the political arena.

His defense attorney, David Kenner, who is well-known for representing rappers like Suge Knight and Snoop Dogg, later pleaded guilty to leaking grand jury information to reporters.

Michel subsequently obtained a new attorney, who argued that Kenner had made several mistakes, including using an “experimental” generative AI program that botched closing arguments by misattributing a lyric from the influential 1990s group in which Michel was a member.

However, Judge Kollar-Kotelly stated that Michel failed to demonstrate that Kenner’s handling of the case had prejudiced the jury. She acknowledged the validity of some of the errors Michel cited, but concluded that they did not negate the extensive evidence presented by prosecutors or render the nearly month-long trial unfair.

A representative for Michel did not have an immediate comment on the ruling.