Kyle McCoy 

A/E Editor

kzm266@psu.edu

Famed R&B singer R Kelly Is currently on trial facing multiple charges of not only sexual assault but also racketeering and Trafficking. After two years of delays, the trial formally began on August 18th, 2021 and it has been going on ever since. The trial comes after years of sexual assault allegations being leveled at the singer. Kelly was formally indicted by New York Federal prosecutors on July 11th, 2019 and he was arrested later that same day. He was denied bail later that year and he has been held in an unspecified New York prison facility since then. Kelly has pleaded not guilty to all of these charges.

The prosecution began its argument on August 19th and wrapped it up on September 20th. The Prosecution is accusing Kelly of running a criminal organization based on luring young women and girls into unlawful sexual relationships with the singer. The prosecution has called 45  witnesses in total to testify including 11 alleged victims of the singer. Nine of these alleged victims are women and two of them are men. According to the New York Times, the witnesses made many claims about the singer some of these claims include the singer forcing one alleged victim to have an abortion, two alleged victims claiming that R. Kelly slept with them while they were underage, Another witness testified that they had caught R. Kelly having sex with fellow singer Aaliyah when she was underage. Finally, several witnesses claimed that R. Kelly imprisoned them and tried to control every aspect of their lives such as how they dressed and who they talked to. 

The Defense will begin making their own arguments on Tuesday, September 21st. Kelly is being defended by a team of four lawyers. Kelly’s defense has asserted that Kelly is not running a criminal enterprise and that all of these workers he employs are simply there to help him run his music company. The defense has all dismissed the allegations by painting the accusers as disgruntled employees and jilted lovers. The defense has stated, “that all of Kellys’ relationships have been consensual and that the accusers are simply seeking fame and recognition.”

Covering the trial has proven to be a bit of a challenge for reporters who have been stuffed into extra courtrooms and forced to watch the proceedings from a monitor due to COVID-19 protocols. The monitor is very small and the space is very cramped making it very hard for reporters and sketch artists to get a good look at the proceedings. To make matters even worse the reporters have to share the space with many supporters of the singer some of whom have behaved hostilely. For example, one male Kelly supporter was removed from the courthouse and arrested on September 3rd for attempting to sexually assault another supporter.

In addition to this trial, Kelly has also been charged by Federal Prosecutors in Chicago on counts of Child Pornography. The start date for this trial is unknown and it will most likely take place after the New York trial concludes. Kelly is also facing charges of prostitution and solicitation in  Minnesota. Kelly’s manager has also been arrested on charges that he threatened to shoot up a theater that was screening the documentary “Surviving R. Kelly” which focuses on the allegations against Kelly. Kelly continues to deny all the charges being levied against him. The trial is scheduled to conclude at the end of the year.