TI requests pre-trial bail
Rapper TI's lawyers have requested his release on a $2.2m (£1m) bond, allowing him to be monitored and confined at home before his weapons charges trial. The twenty seven year old rapper is charged with unlawfully possessing firearms, unregistered machine guns and silencers. US magistrate Judge Alan Baverman said he would give a ruling on the request on the 26 October when lawyers must produce a court-approved home monitor, TI real name Clifford Harris would also be electronically tagged. His lawyer has proposed putting someone in his home 24 hours a day to monitor activities, adding he would only be able to receive visits from a pre-approved list. The rapper would also surrender his passport and his right to drive, and submit to random searches of his home and random drug screening. The Grammy-winning artist faces up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 (£122,000) fine for each count. He is forbidden from owning firearms due to a previous conviction on drugs charges. Several record company executives, including some from Atlantic Records and Warner Music Group, were in the courtroom on Friday. Officials said they were prepared to offer in excess of $1m (£400,000) on the rapper's behalf.
Prosecutors have opposed the move stating, because of Harris's criminal history and because he was arrested while allegedly trying to buy machine guns and silencers, he poses a flight risk and danger to the community.
TI was formally charged on Wednesday by a federal grand jury, after his arrest last Saturday.
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