Imprisoned rapper A$AP Rocky will temporarily return home to the United States while awaiting the outcome of his court case in Sweden later this month.
The Swedish court ruled that Rocky and two other suspects are freed from detention until Aug. 14, when their case's verdict is expected, according to the Associated Press. Rocky, whose real name is Rakim Mayers, was arrested on assault charges after getting into a fight on the streets of Stockholm on June 30. His lawyer argued that it was self-defense in court. The case's prosecutor argued that despite claims of self-defense, "the events in question constitute a crime despite claims of self-defense and provocation."
The State Department got involved in the case in mid-July, calling on Sweden to treat the award-winning rapper fairly. A spokesman said the department looked forward to seeing him back on tour soon.
Late last month, President Donald Trump spoke out in support of the rapper at the behest of First Lady Melania Trump, Kim Kardashian, and Kanye West, Politico reported.
"Give A$AP Rocky his FREEDOM. We do so much for Sweden but it doesn't seem to work the other way around. Sweden should focus on its real crime problem!" he wrote on Twitter with the hashtag #FreeRocky.
https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/1154502673514684416?lang=en
"A$AP Rocky released from prison and on his way home to the United States from Sweden. It was a Rocky Week, get home ASAP A$AP!" the president tweeted today.
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1157345692517634049