Apriano Espautar 18” Distaict or New Your Me Wasutneton, D.G. 20515, July 10, 2019 Ambassador Karin Olofsdotter ‘Swedish Embassy in DC 2900 K Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20007 Dear Ambassador Olofsdotter, On July 3, 2019, a United States Citizen and constituent of mine, Rakim Mayers, also known by his stage name ASAP Rocky, was arrested following an incident in which he and his associates were repeatedly harassed, accosted, and attacked by several young men. In videos documenting the incident, ASAP and his associates can be seen continually trying to deescalate the situation, requesting that the men stop following them and emphasizing that they do not want to fight or “go to jail.” Despite their requests, the men continued to pursue, harass, and physically torment ASAP and his associates. The video validates the claims of ASAP and his companions: they demonstrated remarkable poise and only reacted when they were forced to defend themselves. Alarmingly, ASAP, who has yet to be formally charged, is being held without access to United States Consular Services, according to multiple media outlets. This is in clear violation of Article 36 of the Vienna Convention for Consular Relations, which entitles a foreign national to contact their embassy following arrest. Equally concerning are the reports, from multiple sources claiming inhumane detainment conditions, not providing adequate food, clean water, or appropriate sleeping arrangements. ASAP, a native of Harlem, NY, one of the communities I represent in the U.S. House of Representatives, is beloved universally for his role asa trailblazer in the music and fashion industries. Touching on and drug addiction, ASAP serves as an inspiration and role model for many American teens. His philanthropy is also notable — he is a co-founder of the Always Strive and Prosper Foundation, which works to combat substance abuse through educating youth on the risks of drug use and offering them educational opportunities in music and the arts. sues like incarceration, racism, am fearful that ifthe situation continues to escalate, Swedish music fans and the stellar reputation of the Swedish tourism industry will suffer greatly, as many artists have already pledged to avoid traveling to the country. Because of his, detainment, ASAP missed multiple shows, costing various individuals millions of dollars. Considering the incredible poise he and his associates demonstrated, the countless attempts to deescalate the situation, the reported violations of ASAP’s human rights while in custody, the financial consequence he and his fans are suffering, and his tremendous importance to my constituency and the City of New York, I urge you to immediately release ASAP without charge. Sincerely, SS Adriano Espaillat Member of Congress