[ad_1]
Donald Trump said he was working on the release of US rapper A $ AP Rocky, who has been held by Swedish police for several weeks.
"I'll call the very talented Swedish Prime Minister to find out what we can do to help A $ AP Rocky," Trump said Friday on Air Force One. He had just told Kanye West about Rocky's situation.
"So many people would like to see this quickly resolved!" Said Trump.
Rocky, a Grammy-nominated artist named after his record label Rakim Mayers, has been in custody since early July, when Swedish police investigated his involvement. allegedly in a fight in Stockholm before his appearance at a music festival. The videos posted on social media seem to show that a person was violently thrown to the ground by Rocky. A defense lawyer said that he had acted in self-defense.
Congressman Adriano Espaillat of New York has called for the release of the rapper and has been in contact with the State Department and the US Embbady in Sweden. Rocky is from the Harlem neighborhood of New York.
The case has attracted the attention of a large number of celebrities, including Sean "Diddy" Combs, Justin Bieber, Pinkett Jada Smith, Nicki Minaj and Post Malone.
Kim Kardashian West encouraged Trump to take steps to free Rocky. Kardashian West has previously worked with the Trump government on issues of criminal justice reform.
A senior administration official, speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, said that Kardashian West had contacted Trump's son-in-law and senior advisor, Jared Kushner, with whom she had worked closely to tell him about it. the situation on behalf of her husband, supporter of the president.
Kushner then informed Trump, according to the manager, who felt that the case deserved to be reviewed and had asked his secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, to see what he was possible to do.
The State Department said Friday that it was following the case but refused to provide details, citing confidentiality considerations. Assistance to US citizens detained abroad is one of the most important functions of the department, he added.
Kardashian West thanked Trump, Pompeo and Kushner via Twitter, as well as "all those involved in the effort to free ASAP Rocky and his two friends".
"Your commitment to justice reform is so appreciated," she wrote Thursday.
Rocky's lawyer, Slobodan Jovicic, told The Associated Press that his client was aware of the president's comments and "is very grateful to everyone who has come forward to show their support".
"It means a lot to him, but we are focusing on the case we have before us," he added.
Trump did not mention Kardashian West nor Kushner to reporters at the Oval Office on Friday and said it was his wife, Melania Trump, who had initially brought the case to his attention.
"She was talking to me about," Can you help A $ AP Rocky? "Said Trump, who also said he heard about other people.
"Many, many members of the African American community have called me, my friends, and have said:" Can you help me? "So personally, I do not know A $ AP Rocky, but I can tell you that he enjoys tremendous support from the African-American community in this country, "he said.
"We will talk to them," Trump said, referring to Swedish officials. "We have already started."
"We are working with the State Department and hope to bring it back home soon," added the First Lady.
Ohio Pastor Darrell Scott, a longtime African-American and Trump supporter, said he was among those who raised the issue with Trump on Friday night after Rocky's management asked for help. .
"We know that it is a top priority for the President and the State Department, at the request of the President," said Kareem Lanier, co-chair of the Urban Revitalization Coalition, which said badigned to the White House the care of moving Rocky to conditions of detention.
Lanier and Scott both rejected the idea that Trump was drawing attention to the issue to distract attention from criticism of his attacks on four Democratic women members of Congress, noting that the administration had worked on this issue before last hubbub.
They applauded Trump for drawing attention to the issue.
"Whenever President Trump gets involved in anything, it brings a level of attention" to a problem that can not be matched by those who "do not have that cache or that reach" Lanier said.
The Stockholm District Court ruled on Friday that Rocky would remain in custody for another week to allow the police to complete his investigation. They have until July 25.
Jovicic, Rocky's lawyer, said the decision was "unfair", but remained confident in his case.
Associated Press contributed to the report
Source link
