Prakazrel “Pras” Michel has entered a motion for a new trial, claiming that his lawyer blew the closing arguments at the original hearing by relying too much on artificial intelligence to craft his final pitch.
Michel called AI “experimental” and said the program’s use resulted in a number of errors by an “unqualified, unprepared, and ineffectual” trial attorney.
Michel was convicted in April on 10 counts, including conspiracy and acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign government. He faces up to 20 years in prison on the top counts.
He was accused of funneling money from a Malaysian financer through straw donors to Barack Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign, then trying to stop a Justice Department investigation and influence an extradition case on behalf of China under the Trump administration.
His trial included testimony from actor Leonardo DiCaprio and former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Michel is free pending sentencing...
Michel called AI “experimental” and said the program’s use resulted in a number of errors by an “unqualified, unprepared, and ineffectual” trial attorney.
Michel was convicted in April on 10 counts, including conspiracy and acting as an unregistered agent of a foreign government. He faces up to 20 years in prison on the top counts.
He was accused of funneling money from a Malaysian financer through straw donors to Barack Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign, then trying to stop a Justice Department investigation and influence an extradition case on behalf of China under the Trump administration.
His trial included testimony from actor Leonardo DiCaprio and former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Michel is free pending sentencing...
- 10/19/2023
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
On April 20, attorney David Kenner delivered closing statements for Prakazrel “Pras” Michel in a closely watched fraud trial involving allegations that the Fugees founding member directed a sprawling conspiracy in which he funneled money from a Malaysian financier to a network of straw donors to make illegal campaign contributions to Barack Obama in 2012. But to the surprise of Michel’s new lawyers, who were retained after the artist was found guilty, Kenner’s first remarks to the jury appeared to be an admission of guilt.
“Ladies and gentleman, this case started back in 2012 when there was, as the government characterizes it, an effort to funnel money to President Obama’s reelection campaign,” Kenner said.
It turned out that Kenner used generative artificial intelligence to help craft his closing remarks, according to a court filing. Michel, who was convicted on charges of conspiring to make straw campaign donations and acting as an unregistered agent for China,...
“Ladies and gentleman, this case started back in 2012 when there was, as the government characterizes it, an effort to funnel money to President Obama’s reelection campaign,” Kenner said.
It turned out that Kenner used generative artificial intelligence to help craft his closing remarks, according to a court filing. Michel, who was convicted on charges of conspiring to make straw campaign donations and acting as an unregistered agent for China,...
- 10/17/2023
- by Winston Cho
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Fugees’ Pras Michel is seeking a new trial in his federal conspiracy case, claiming that his former attorney is responsible for “ineffective representation,” which included using an AI program to write his closing argument.
The motion for a new trial was filed by Michel’s new legal team on Monday, October 16th. Among the allegations put forth by the motion against Michel’s previous lawyer, David Kenner, is a claim that Kenner “used an experimental artificial intelligence (AI) program to draft the closing argument, ignoring the best arguments and conflating the charged schemes, and he then publicly boasted that the AI program ‘turned hours or days of legal work into seconds’” (per Rolling Stone).
Further, the motion alleges that Kenner had “an undisclosed financial stake” in the AI program, and the usage of the program for Michel’s trial was done “so they could issue a press release afterward promoting...
The motion for a new trial was filed by Michel’s new legal team on Monday, October 16th. Among the allegations put forth by the motion against Michel’s previous lawyer, David Kenner, is a claim that Kenner “used an experimental artificial intelligence (AI) program to draft the closing argument, ignoring the best arguments and conflating the charged schemes, and he then publicly boasted that the AI program ‘turned hours or days of legal work into seconds’” (per Rolling Stone).
Further, the motion alleges that Kenner had “an undisclosed financial stake” in the AI program, and the usage of the program for Michel’s trial was done “so they could issue a press release afterward promoting...
- 10/17/2023
- by Jo Vito
- Consequence - Music
The Fugees’ Pras Michel is arguing he deserves a new trial in his federal conspiracy case in part because his original attorney provided “ineffective representation,” even allegedly using an AI program to draft his closing argument.
Back in April, Michel was convicted on 10 counts of conspiracy and falsifying records for his role in a multimillion-dollar government influence campaign that involved both the Obama and Trump administrations. The charges against him included money laundering, illegal lobbying, witness tampering, and campaign finance violations.
Michel has repeatedly denied the charges against him, and on Monday,...
Back in April, Michel was convicted on 10 counts of conspiracy and falsifying records for his role in a multimillion-dollar government influence campaign that involved both the Obama and Trump administrations. The charges against him included money laundering, illegal lobbying, witness tampering, and campaign finance violations.
Michel has repeatedly denied the charges against him, and on Monday,...
- 10/17/2023
- by Jon Blistein
- Rollingstone.com
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