Reality TV star Kim Kardashian West has reportedly reached out to President Trump’s administration to request intervention in the imprisonment of rapper A$AP Rocky.
The rapper was arrested in Sweden on July 2 on charges of “gross assault” stemming from a June 30 altercation in Stockholm. He has been imprisoned since that time.
Kardashian West and several other public figures have spoken out in support of A$AP Rocky, who was born Rakim Mayers, stating that the rapper is being held unjustly. Footage from the fight seemed to reveal that A$AP Rocky and his entourage were followed and attacked by several men and aggressively fought back. A$AP Rocky’s attorney has asserted that his client was acting in self-defense and further stated the prison conditions in Sweden were inhumane and “horrific.”
The U.S. State Department issued a statement earlier this week, saying they are aware of the situation and monitoring the progress. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is said to be making moves to try to get A$AP Rocky freed. Kim Kardashian West, who has worked previously with the Trump administration to help free prisoners, reportedly contacted Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner to see if the administration could intervene on A$AP Rocky’s behalf.
No official statement from the White House has confirmed whether Trump is willing to cash in political chips to free A$AP Rocky, but he is said to believe that something is not right with the long-term imprisonment. Sweden has not indicated that they are willing to free the rapper ahead of his prosecution, which is currently scheduled for later this month.
Swedish Ambassador to the United States Karin Olofsdotter said reports of inhumane prison conditions were not accurate and indicated that A$AP Rocky’s charges could be more serious than the public believes. She further rejected the implication that A$AP Rocky’s arrest was racially motivated.
