Pras Michel is combating to remain free whereas interesting his conviction, asking a federal choose to grant bail as he challenges what his attorneys name a deeply tainted trial.

The former Fugees rapper was sentenced on November 20 to 168 months in federal jail after a Washington jury convicted him in a sweeping political affect case.

His authorized staff filed a movement in search of bail pending enchantment, arguing that his conviction is weak on a number of fronts and that he poses no flight danger or hazard to the general public.

Michel was allowed to stay free following sentencing and isn’t scheduled to give up to the Bureau of Prisons till January 27, 2026. His lawyers say forcing him into custody now would be premature given the scope of issues already headed to the appeals court.

Michel’s attorneys argue the trial was riddled with errors that improperly swayed the jury. They contend jurors repeatedly heard that federal judges and FBI brokers believed Michel was responsible, a state of affairs they describe as unprecedented and profoundly prejudicial.

“Rather than testify about the subject matter of the FBI’s investigation, Agent Heuchling testified about his conclusions after reviewing all of the evidence,” Pras’s lawyer Peter Zeidenberg mentioned. “Agent Heuchling also expressed his opinions about then strength of the evidence, including based on hearsay, such as when he testified that he traced funds to entities associated with Michel.”

The movement claims that the trial choose allowed jurors to be taught {that a} separate choose had discovered possible trigger that Michel dedicated crimes, after which bolstered that message via repeated courtroom rulings labeling him a “co-conspirator” earlier than the jury.

The protection argues that no significant instruction ever advised jurors to ignore these impressions.

Michel’s attorneys additionally take intention on the testimony of an FBI case agent, arguing he was improperly allowed to behave as an summary witness whereas repeatedly providing opinions that Michel dedicated crimes. The submitting claims the agent described alleged conspiracies and unlawful conduct dozens of instances, crossing traces the D.C. Circuit has already warned towards.

Beyond courtroom conduct, the enchantment assaults the proof itself. The protection argues prosecutors stretched federal statutes past their limits, together with financial institution fraud and marketing campaign finance legal guidelines.

One key argument says no courtroom has ever upheld convictions for false statements to banks when no funds had been in danger and no loans had been concerned, but Michel was convicted underneath that concept.

Other challenges goal counts tied to political donations, international agent legal guidelines and alleged lobbying.

Michel’s attorneys argue that prosecutors did not show important components, comparable to intent, route or management by a international authorities, and precise causation of the false filings. They declare a number of counts ought to by no means have reached a jury.

The movement additionally ranges harsh criticism at Michel’s trial illustration. It alleges his former lawyer, David Kenner, of Death Row Records fame, was unprepared for a posh white-collar case, did not object to damaging testimony and even made statements throughout closing arguments that successfully conceded core allegations.

The protection argues that ineffective help alone warrants a brand new trial.

“Michel’s trial counsel, David Kenner, was ineffective and incompetent. He failed to object when the Government used Agent Heuchling as an overview witness, or to Heuchling’s repeated testimony that Michel was guilty of the offenses charged, betraying a lack of familiarity with the rules of evidence,” Zeidenberg mentioned.

Under federal legislation, a defendant have to be launched pending enchantment if he’s not a flight danger, poses no hazard and raises substantial questions more likely to lead to reversal or a brand new trial.

Michel’s attorneys say he meets all necessities, noting that he has remained on launch with out incident since his 2019 arrest. If bail is denied, the protection is asking the courtroom to no less than delay give up till the appeals courtroom weighs in.

They argue that dashing Michel into jail earlier than that overview would serve no objective and couldn’t be undone.

Michel was convicted in a case tied to Malaysian financier Jho Low and worldwide lobbying efforts that prosecutors mentioned crossed authorized traces. His enchantment is now pending earlier than the D.C. Circuit, with the bail choice anticipated earlier than his January give up date.

Related