One of R. Kelly’s upcoming trials has been moved to July 2020.
A federal judge on Thursday (06.02.2020) delayed embattled singer R. Kelly’s racketeering, sexual abuse and bribery trial in Brooklyn, New York to July 7th 2020, so it would not conflict with the singer’s upcoming trial in a separate Chicago case.
Reuters reported that U.S. District Judge Ann Donnelly in Brooklyn federal court said the scheduled April 27th 2020 trial date in Chicago made the May 18th 2020 target to begin the Brooklyn trial “somewhat unrealistic.”
Kelly, who federal authorities have detained in Chicago, attended the Brooklyn hearing by video conference, wearing an orange, V-neck short-sleeve shirt over a white T-shirt.
The Brooklyn prosecutors have accused Kelly of running a criminal scheme in which women and underage girls were recruited to have sexual activity with him.
Known for such hits as ‘I Believe I Can Fly’ and ‘Ignition’, Kelly, 53, has faced sexual abuse allegations dating back more than two decades, including accounts from some accusers in the January 2019 Lifetime documentary ‘Surviving R. Kelly’, as reported by The Sauce.
He has pleaded not guilty to all criminal charges in several cases filed in New York, Illinois, and Minnesota last year.
In 2008, Kelly was acquitted at trial on state child pornography charges in Illinois.