The Nina Simone And Kamala Harris Connection, Explained.
Before Simone passed away, she appointed South African singer Miriam Makeba as the trustee over her estate, TMZ reported. Documents stated that if Makeba could not fill the role as trustee, then she could appoint a successor. However, when Simone passed away in 2003, her daughter Lisa Simone Kelly was put in charge of the singer’s estate and trust.
In 2013, Kelly was accused of misappropriating funds that were tied to the charitable trust. According to court documents, Kelly took $2 million from the estate’s coffers with the majority of the funds deposited into her personal company, the Daily Beast reported.
Harris, then California’s attorney general, decided to step in and determine the fate of Simone’s estate. Harris’ office and Kelly reached an agreement where Simone’s daughter was asked to relinquish her rights to oversee the estate and the late artist’s work.
Ultimately, Simone’s business associate says Harris did the right thing.