Despite Kim Kardashian and Kanye West‘s best efforts, Swedish prosecutors claim the White House has not been in touch with them to discuss A$AP Rocky‘s assault case. However, a source close to the situation told Page Six the US Department of State has, in fact, reached out.
“We have had no communication with the White House,” the Swedish Prosecution Authority told us in an exclusive statement Friday.
A spokesperson added that even if Donald Trump were to try to intervene, they said it is “not possible for the US President to have any influence on the Swedish legal procedure.”
The Swedish Prosecution Authority provided Page Six with a link to a book titled “The Swedish Judicial System,” which is a manual on how Sweden works with foreign countries on crime.
It states, “International cooperation is becoming increasingly important in the day-to-day work of prosecutors,” and adds, “Surrender can be requested for two purposes: the first concerns a person who is to serve a sentence already imposed in the other country, and the second concerns a person who is to face legal proceedings there.”
However, U.S. representatives Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08), Rep. Joaquin Castro (TX-20),and Rep. André Carson (D-IN) released a joint statement saying they have reached out to the Swedish government. It is unclear whether the Prosecutor’s Office was involved in those discussions.
“We remain deeply concerned about the detainment of Rakim Mayers, also known as A$AP Rocky, and his two companions David Rispers Jr., and Bladimir Corniel. All three of these gentlemen are not only American citizens, they are young men of color,” the representatives said Thursday, adding that they planned to closely monitor today’s pre-trial hearing as they have been in “close contact with both the U.S. State Department and the Swedish government.”
The members continued, “We will continue fighting until the Swedish Government terminates this erroneous detainment and all three men return home to their families.”
A separate source close to the situation also told Page Six Friday, “The White House hasn’t called, but the US state department called to go through the proper channels.”
On Thursday, a source confirmed to Page Six that Kardashian, 38, and West, 42, had also lobbied the White House in the hopes that Trump, 73, could facilitate an earlier release date for Rocky, 30.
The couple was “very concerned” about the alleged “inhumane conditions” of the Kronoberg Detention Center, where the rapper is being held. The prison’s governor previously denied the claims to us and said the facility had “a large reconstruction.”
The Urban Revitalization Coalition — an organization set up by the Trump administration — told us Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner was able to secure better prison conditions for Rocky.
As a result, Kardashian tweeted, “Thank you @realDonaldTrump, @SecPompeo, Jared Kushner & everyone involved with the efforts to Free ASAP Rocky & his two friends. Your commitment to justice reform is so appreciated.”
However, the Swedish Prosecution Authority announced Friday that the “F—ckin’ Problems” rapper would not be released early. His prison sentence was extended nearly an extra week while the investigation is ongoing due to “flight risk.”
“We have worked intensively with the investigation and need more time, until Thursday next week in order to complete the preliminary investigation,” Senior Public Prosecutor Daniel Suneson said in a press release.
Rocky and two of his friends were first arrested on July 5 over a June 30 street fight in Stockholm. Prosecutors said Friday they will decide how to indict Rocky “no later” than July 25. He will remain detained at the Kronoberg Detention Center until then.