President Trump told the Swedish prime minister he would “personally vouch” for rapper A$AP Rocky’s bail if he is released from detention, as the Scandinavian nation explores potential assault charges over a scuffle the artist and his entourage had with men in Stockholm.
Mr. Trump said Stefan Löfven assured him the rapper would be “treated fairly” in detention.
“Likewise, I assured him that A$AP was not a flight risk and offered to personally vouch for his bail, or an alternative,” Mr. Trump said in a series of Saturday tweets. “Our teams will be talking further, and we agreed to speak again in the next 48 hours!”
The rapper, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, is accused of assaulting a man in Stockholm, after TMZ and other outlets published videos that appear to show him throwing another man to the ground, before his associates then kick and punch the man on the ground.
The rapper says they acted in self-defense. He posted an Instagram video that shows his entourage telling two men to walk away and leave them alone, adding they don’t want to fight.
Mr. Trump revealed Friday that he elevated the issue through diplomatic channels, after first lady Melania Trump, hip-hop artist Kanye West and a number of people in the “African-American community” brought it to his attention.
SEE ALSO: Stefan Lofven, Swedish PM, to Donald Trump: A$AP Rocky won’t get special treatment
Mr. Lovren has said he welcomes Mr. Trump’s input in the case, but he “cannot and will not attempt to influence prosecutors or courts,” The Associated Press reported.
“I will explain that the Swedish judicial system is independent,” he said. “In Sweden, everyone is equal before the law, and this includes visitors from other countries.”
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
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