Warning from U.S. urged release of A$AP Rocky

The U.S. government sent a letter to Sweden warning of “negative consequences” in the relationship between the countries if Sweden did not release the rap artist A$AP Rocky from prison.

The rapper, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, went on trial for assault last week along with two other men, David Rispers and Bladimir Corniel. They were released Friday at the conclusion of the trial while a verdict is pending.

The letter, dated July 31, was signed by Robert O’Brien, U.S. special envoy for hostage affairs. He wrote to Swedish officials that “the government of the United States of America wants to resolve this case as soon as possible to avoid potentially negative consequences to the U.S.-Swedish bilateral relationship,” according to NBC News, which obtained a copy of the letter. O’Brien, sent to Sweden by President Donald Trump, called for the “immediate humanitarian release” of the men from a prison and suggested they be held in a local Stockholm hotel pending the outcome of the case.

In a letter dated Aug. 1, Petra Lundh, prosecutor-general of Sweden, responded that according to the Swedish constitution, a prosecutor works independently, and she could not interfere in the case or influence the prosecutor assigned to it. “Furthermore, when a person is charged and the case is brought before a court, only the court can decide, during or after the trial, whether or not to release the person or decide on supervised detention,” Lundh wrote.

Days earlier, Trump went on a Twitter tirade against Sweden’s prime minister over Rocky’s detention. The rapper was jailed in June after he and his co-defendants were involved in an altercation with a man named Mustafa Jafari and a friend. During testimony in his three-day trial, Rocky said he had asked Jafari to leave him alone, and the man refused. A brawl ensued, and footage of Rocky punching and kicking Jafari went viral. Rocky claimed he acted in self-defense.

A verdict in the case is expected on Aug. 14.

FREDRIK PERSSON / TT A$AP Rocky (right, rear) leaves court Friday in Stockholm. He and two other men were released Friday at the conclusion of the trial while a verdict is pending.