Presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris opposes President Trump’s efforts to free rapper A$AP Rocky, who has been in a Swedish prison since July 2 following a violent altercation in Stockholm.
Because if there is one thing the California senator is passionate about, it is putting (and keeping) people in prison. Automatic incarceration for any and all infractions is kind of her bag.
The senator said this week that Trump’s efforts to get Swedish authorities to release the Harlem-born rapper, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, constitute an “abuse of power.”
"There is no question that this White House is being — has been playing politics with his — his role of leadership, and it has to end," Harris said Wednesday during the annual NAACP conference in Detroit, segueing awkwardly into something about how she would "prosecute the case" against Trump.
The moderator, American Urban Radio Networks' April Ryan, who conducted the softest of softball interviews, pressed the senator on whether she believes the president’s efforts to secure A$AP Rocky’s release is a misuse of power.
Harris replied in the affirmative.
The president has taken steps to address the Grammy-nominated artist’s situation after it was brought to his attention first by Kanye West and Kim Kardashian West.
“I personally don’t know A$AP Rocky, but I can tell you that he has tremendous support from the African American community in this country,” Trump said last week. “And when I say African American, I think I can really say from everybody in this country, because we’re all one.”
The president added later in a tweet that he had "a very good call with [Swedish Prime Minister] Stefan Löfven who assured me that American citizen A$AP Rocky will be treated fairly."
Along with speaking directly to the prime minister about the rapper’s case, the White House also sent a State Department official to Sweden to lobby on A$AP Rocky’s behalf.
This is apparently a bridge too far for Harris, who may or may not actually know the details of the White House’s involvement in the A$AP Rocky case and instead spouted off with a reflexively anti-Trump position.
"So you’re saying this is another piece on the rap sheet of Donald Trump, this misuse of power in the A$AP Rocky case?" asked Ryan, who playacts as a serious, no-nonsense journalist when she appears at White House press briefings.
"Yes," said the senator.
For whatever reason, Harris and Ryan later chanted together:
"Alright, say it loud," the alleged straight-news journalist instructed the senator.
"Yes," said Harris, adding, "And I’m black and I’m proud!"
"Wait, say that again. I didn’t hear you. What did you say?" asked Ryan.
"Say it loud, I’m black and I’m proud!" the senator shouted.
On Thursday, a Swedish prosecutor charged A$AP Rocky with assault for the June 30 incident in Stockholm, according to the Associated Press.
Charges were filed against the rapper and two additional individuals “suspected of assault causing actual bodily harm, having come to the conclusion that the events in question constitute a crime and despite claims of self-defense and provocation,” prosecutor Daniel Suneson said in a statement.
A$AP Rocky and the two other suspects, who are described as being members of his entourage, face a maximum of two years in prison.
They “will remain in custody until trial,” the Associated Press reports.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/kamala-the-cop-calls-trump-efforts-to-free-rapper-a-ap-rocky-from-foreign-prison-an-abuse-of-power
2019-07-25 13:30:00Z
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