(Politico)
MAYA KING 07/19/2019 02:26 PM
President Donald Trump said Friday that he and first lady Melania Trump plan to negotiate for rapper A$AP Rocky to be released from Swedish custody, adding that the artist has “tremendous support from the African American community in this country.”
The president’s comments come in response to Swedish prosecutors’ decision to keep the rapper, born Rakim Mayers, in custody for another week “because of the flight risk.”
A$AP Rocky and two friends were arrested in Sweden three weeks ago after an altercation that Swedish authorities say they suspect was an assault. Since his arrest, top State Department officials have been monitoring the situation and making sure the rapper is being treated fairly while in foreign custody.
Parties in the U.S. ranging from the Congressional Black Caucus to Kim Kardashian West have become involved in the case, rallying behind A$AP Rocky and asking for further intervention from Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Rapper Kanye West also joined the call for the rapper's release according to a tweet from Trump, posted Friday afternoon.
"Just spoke to Kanye West about his friend A$AP Rocky’s incarceration," Trump tweeted. "I will be calling the very talented Prime Minister of Sweden to see what we can do about helping A$AP Rocky. So many people would like to see this quickly resolved!"
During a news conference Wednesday, Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.), who represents A$AP Rocky’s home congressional district, said Pompeo’s efforts to free the rapper are “not enough.”
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