Why Is The Noi Handling Jackson's Security?

[Shawn]

According to Billboard, Louis Farrakhan's Nation of Islam has taken over the security considerations for Micheal Jackson. Jackson's spokespeople claim that reports that the Nation is also spearheading his advisory body are inaccurate. All of this begs a question. Why has Jackson, who claims he has not converted to Islam, decided to get the NOI behind him?

Although brother Jermaine Jackson has converted to Islam, Jermaine is not a member of the Nation of Islam. Jackson's lawyers are playing down the importance of the NOI's influence. What is the purpose of allowing the controversial Farrakhan's group to take over his physical defense?

Farrakhan is certainly widely known. His group, the Nation of Islam, advocates the creation of an autonomous African-American land. Farrakhan himself has been quoted as having said quite hateful remarks toward other races. For Jackson to ally himself with a group he feels no particular allegiance with, despite that group's notoriety, suggests that Jackson may have other considerations.

A cynic might suggest Jackson expects to serve prison time.

[HolyMoly]

It might also be an attempt by Jackson to pre-plan his "escape" in case he is found guilty. The Nation of Islam has been known to give aid and comfort to wanted felons, escpecially rich felons. I suspect that, by now, Jackson's children are either out of the country ... or in a place they can easily be "spirited away" on the QT if need be. And, if Jackson is certain he'll be convicted, he may have his lawyer delay closing comments to give him time to work through the NOI network to disappear.

Nation of Islam Denies Jackson Aid

By Louise Daly in Chicago (12/31/2003)

The Nation of Islam today denied reports that its members were advising beleaguered pop star Michael Jackson on how to handle his child molestation case.

The controversial black Muslim separatist group said it had "no official business or professional relationship with Mr Michael Jackson," in a terse statement issued by its Chicago headquarters.

"The Nation of Islam joins thousands of other people in wishing him well," it added.

The denial followed a report in The New York Times that senior figures from the Chicago-based group had joined Jackson's inner circle and were wielding considerable influence over his business affairs and legal strategy.

According to Jackson employees and associates, the Nation of Islam members were first invited to the pop star's Neverland ranch in California to bolster his security detail but had progressed to negotiating media deals and advising him on his defence strategy in his upcoming criminal case.

"The Nation of Islam and Louis Farrakhan's son-in-law have taken over completely and are in full and total charge," said one senior Jackson employee, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"They have gone in and taken over control of the finances in terms of who's getting paid (and) how much," the employee added.

"They're approving all funds and have decided they have control of the business manager and accountant, without signing authority or power of attorney. They are working out of (Mark) Geragos's office; in essence, they're telling him what to do."

Geragos, the high-profile lawyer retained by Jackson to help him fight the child molestation charges, brushed off the allegations, saying that while Jackson did consult with Leonard Muhammad, he was just one of many informal advisers.

"The idea that there is some takeover by the Nation of Islam - someone is spinning you," he told the daily in a telephone interview.

"Nobody has told me what to do and what not to do. Leonard, I believe, is someone Michael consults with, just like in excess of 25 people."

Muhammad is the chief of staff and son-in-law of Louis Farrakhan, the leader of the fringe black power group.

Meanwhile, one of Jackson's business associates who was accustomed to speaking to the singer daily said there were about a half-dozen Nation of Islam members around the singer constantly, either at Neverland or in Los Angeles.

"These people are basically brainwashing him," said the associate, who is also a friend of Jackson's.

"They tried to do the same thing to Whitney Houston. They offer a false sense that they can control everything. Everyone is scared of them. They pretty much keep Michael semi-captive."

Another Jackson employee said: "They're negotiating business deals with him. They're negotiating media deals, who can talk, how much. You've got a lawyer who's scared to throw them out. Michael doesn't know what to do with them."

The employees said that Geragos and Muhammad together negotiated a recent television appearance by Jackson in which he addressed the child abuse allegations.

They told the daily that CBS agreed to the interview, which aired Sunday, in exchange for the network's promise to broadcast a still-incomplete television special, for which the pop star will receive $US5 million ($6.69 million).

Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department was due to respond to abuse charges from Jackson relating to his November 20 arrest.

Jackson's allegations that he was manhandled "are not true"" Sergeant Tim Gracey told AFP, who said a press conference tomorrow by sheriff Jim Anderson would address the allegations.

Meanwhile, Jackson's official spokesman, Stuart Backerman, resigned over what he said in a statement were "strategic differences with the way things are going."

But CNN television reported that Jackson's lawyer Geragos, in fact, had fired Backerman for speaking to the press at the weekend after he had been told not to.

http://www.theadvertiser.news.com.au/print...8291407,00.html