Pras Michel Loses Bid For Retrial After Diddy Song Blunder Ruled Inconsequentia

Pras Michel, a member of the Grammy-winning group Fugees, recently faced a significant legal setback as his bid for a new trial was denied by a federal court. The court ruled that an error involving a Diddy song, which was cited in Michel’s motion, did not warrant overturning the jury’s verdict.

Allegations Against Pras Michel

Pras Michel was accused of being involved in three separate illegal schemes, which included conduit contributions, witness tampering, and foreign lobbying. Central to these allegations was Michel’s alleged collaboration with Jho Low, a fugitive financier. Michel was accused of facilitating the transfer of large sums of money from foreign banks into the United States.

One of the most significant allegations involved Michel allegedly using Jho Low’s illicit funds to channel millions of dollars into the 2012 presidential campaign of then-President Barack Obama. This was done through a network of at least 20 proxy contributors, obscuring the true origins of the finances.

In addition, Michel was accused of attempting to influence U.S. government decisions. In 2017, he allegedly orchestrated a covert operation to persuade the Obama administration and the Department of Justice to drop their investigation into Jho Low, who was accused of embezzling billions of dollars from Malaysia. Michel also allegedly made substantial donations to convince President Donald Trump’s administration to halt the probe.

Conviction and Motion for New Trial

In April 2023, Pras Michel was convicted on ten counts related to the allegations against him. Following this conviction, Michel filed a motion seeking a new trial, arguing that various errors had undermined the jury’s verdict. However, his request for a new trial was ultimately rejected by the court.

AI in the Defense Strategy

A distinctive aspect of Michel’s defense was the use of artificial intelligence (AI) during closing arguments, a strategy employed by his attorney, David Kenner. The AI was used to analyze the vast amount of evidence and to help craft a persuasive narrative for the defense. Kenner incorporated AI-generated content into his final argument, although some phrases were modified. Notably, the AI mistakenly attributed lyrics from Diddy’s song “I’ll Be Missing You” to Michel, an error that went unnoticed during the trial.

Court’s Ruling on the AI Error

Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly ruled that the mistake involving the misattributed song lyrics did not influence the jury’s decision. She stated, “Michel does not explain how this mistake—the mistaken attribution of a Puff Daddy song in the closing argument—resulted in prejudice.” The judge further emphasized that Michel had not demonstrated a reasonable probability that the trial outcome would have been different if the AI error had not occurred. She noted that the content derived from the AI did not relate to any evidence in the case, but rather consisted of general sympathetic statements and one lyrical quote.

The court ultimately concluded that Michel had not shown ineffective assistance from his counsel based on the AI’s use during the closing arguments.

Other Contentions and Court’s Decision

Pras Michel also raised concerns about certain evidentiary rulings made in the presence of the jury, arguing that they amplified prejudice against him. He claimed that these rulings, which were made without curative instructions, negatively impacted his case. However, the court determined that any potential mistakes in these rulings did not affect Michel’s substantial rights, considering the context and the jury instructions provided.

As a result, Michel’s bid for a new trial was denied, and the original conviction was upheld.