Elizabeth A. Harris and Robert Chiarito

<h1>The tape, sold as a bootleg, was notorious: It showed R&amp;B; singer R. Kelly having sex with and urinating on a girl who prosecutors said was barely a teenager.</h1>

But although the tape was shown at Kelly’s ensuing child pornography trial in 2008, the girl and her immediate family refused to testify.

In a sign of how Kelly’s fortunes have changed, a lawyer for that girl, now a woman in her 30s, said Tuesday she was cooperating with federal investigators.

The extent of her cooperation was not immediately clear, but the statement from her lawyer, Christopher L. Brown, came just days after Kelly was accused in a federal indictment of paying the girl and her father to stay quiet and in some cases to lie to investigators to protect him.

Kelly is now facing numerous state and federal charges including sexual assault, obstruction of justice, child pornography and racketeering. Prosecutors said he had victimized 12 women, at least eight of whom were underage at the time of the incidents.

On Tuesday, Kelly stood in a federal courtroom in Chicago and pleaded not guilty while his lawyer, Steve Greenberg, argued his client was not a flight risk, noting he had been present for all his previous court dates. But a federal judge ordered him kept in jail without bond, calling the case “extraordinarily serious.”

Angel Krull, a federal prosecutor, said Tuesday that, if convicted, Kelly would face a maximum of 195 years in prison and that investigators had “identified many more girls” beyond the 12 he may have abused.

One of the 12 women was the girl at the center of Kelly’s 2008 trial, but until Tuesday it was not publicly known whether she would cooperate.

According to a federal indictment unsealed last week, Kelly gave the girl and her family gifts and money both before and after the trial so she would lie to investigators or be unavailable for questioning, and so she would not testify against him. Neither the girl nor anyone else in her family was charged.

On Tuesday, when asked about the woman’s reversal about cooperating with the prosecution, Kelly’s lawyer said, “I don’t know anything about it.”

This article originally appeared in <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/16/arts/music/r-kelly-sexual-assault-tape.html" link="null" target="_blank">The New York Times</a>.

Key witness is cooperating in case against R&B star

In a sign of how Kelly’s fortunes have changed, a lawyer for that girl, now a woman in her 30s, said Tuesday she was cooperating with federal investigators.

<h1>R&amp;amp;B singer R. Kelly was released from a Chicago jail Monday, three days after he surrendered to face 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse.</h1>

Kelly’s bond had been set at $1 million. According to Cook County jail records, a woman who described herself as a friend from the Chicago area paid $100,000, the standard 10 percent bail fee, to secure his release. Kelly walked through the jail gates around 5:30 p.m. local time, then moved slowly through a scrum of waiting reporters as a fan nearby yelled “Free R. Kelly!” He was driven away in a black Mercedes van, trailed by a news helicopter.

Earlier Monday, Kelly appeared in Cook County criminal court in an orange prison jumpsuit with “DOC” printed on the back, and pleaded not guilty to the charges. His lawyer, Steven Greenberg, asked the judge whether his client would have to settle child support payments he owes to post bond, or if the $100,000 would suffice. Judge Lawrence E. Flood said Kelly only needed $100,000.

Prosecutors in Chicago say they have identified four victims, including one teenage autograph seeker whom they say Kelly had sex with for months beginning when she was 16 years old.

Another was a girl he met at a restaurant, at her 16th birthday celebration.

A third was a 24-year-old hairdresser of his, who told prosecutors that Kelly tried to force her to perform oral sex on him. Court documents said she reported that incident to law enforcement officials within two years of when it occurred and handed over a shirt she was wearing that day, which DNA analysis showed had his semen on it. It was not clear why Kelly was not charged in connection with this at the time. Greenberg has said it may have been a consensual encounter.

For years, Kelly, whose real name is Robert Kelly, seemed largely immune to accusations that he sexually abused minors and kept women in a cultlike environment, shielded by a series of nondisclosure agreements. But his behavior came under renewed scrutiny in January after the documentary “Surviving R. Kelly,” which chronicled the allegations against him, aired on Lifetime.

He was arrested in 2002 on child pornography charges stemming from a tape that prosecutors said showed him having sex with and urinating on an underage girl. But in 2008, he was acquitted on all counts after the girl prosecutors said was in the tape refused to testify.

That same girl is now the fourth victim cited by prosecutors. They also have said that they have a different tape of Kelly and the girl having sex, and Michael Avenatti, the celebrity lawyer who gave the video to law enforcement, has said that it is a recording of a different incident than the earlier tape, which removes any concern about double jeopardy.

Avenatti said Monday that he had obtained a second video of Kelly that showed him having sex with an underage girl. He said he gave the 55-minute-long tape to prosecutors, and that the girl in the video was one of the victims Kelly had already been charged with abusing. In this tape, he said, Kelly “refers to the victim having a 14-year-old body part, a vagina.”

Kelly’s next court date will be March 22.

This article originally appeared in <a id="c45e4bca-e95d-4090-84e3-408daad2584c" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/25/arts/music/r-kelly-not-guilty.html">The New York Times</a>.

R. Kelly Released From Jail After Making Bail on Sexual Abuse Charges

Earlier Monday, Kelly appeared in Cook County criminal court in an orange prison jumpsuit with “DOC” printed on the back, and pleaded not guilty to the charges.

R. Kelly released from jail after making bail on sexual abuse charges

Kelly’s bond had been set at $1 million. According to Cook County jail records, a woman who described herself as a friend from the Chicago area paid $100,000, the standard 10 percent bail fee, to secure his release. Kelly walked through the jail gates around 5:30 p.m. local time. He was driven away in a black Mercedes van.

Earlier Monday, Kelly appeared in Cook County criminal court and pleaded not guilty to the charges. His lawyer, Steven Greenberg, asked the judge whether his client would have to settle child support payments he owes to post bond, or if the $100,000 would suffice. Judge Lawrence E. Flood said Kelly only needed $100,000.

A third was a 24-year-old hairdresser of his, who told prosecutors Kelly tried to force her to perform oral sex on him. Court documents said she reported that incident to law enforcement officials within two years of when it occurred and handed over a shirt she was wearing that day, which DNA analysis showed had his semen on it.

Kelly, whose real name is Robert Kelly, was arrested in 2002 on child pornography charges stemming from a tape that prosecutors said showed him having sex with and urinating on an underage girl. But in 2008, he was acquitted on all counts after the girl prosecutors said was in the tape refused to testify.

That same girl is now the fourth victim cited by prosecutors. They also have said they have a different tape of Kelly and the girl having sex, and Michael Avenatti, the celebrity lawyer who gave the video to law enforcement, has said it is a recording of a different incident than the earlier tape.

This article originally appeared in <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/25/arts/music/r-kelly-not-guilty.html" id="3f8f00f7-84c3-38fc-a572-9fa4a855761f">The New York Times</a>.

R&amp;B; singer R. Kelly was released from a Chicago jail Monday, three days after he surrendered to face 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse.

As of Monday afternoon, Kelly had not yet posted bond, which was set at $1 million. His lawyer, Steven Greenberg, said he was being kept in the jail’s hospital unit for security reasons.

Kelly appeared in Cook County criminal court in Chicago in an orange prison jumpsuit with “DOC” printed on the back. In court, Greenberg asked the judge whether his client would have to settle child support payments he owes to post bond, or if he could just pay $100,000. Judge Lawrence E. Flood said Kelly only needed to pay $100,000.

Greenberg told reporters that Kelly expected to have the necessary cash Monday evening.

Outside the courtroom, a handful of people called “Free R. Kelly!” at members of the media.

Prosecutors in Chicago have put forward four victims, including one teenage autograph seeker whom they say Kelly had sex with for months beginning when she was 16 years old.

That same girl is now the fourth alleged victim in the new cases against him, prosecutors said. They also have said that they have a different tape of Kelly and the girl having sex, and Michael Avenatti, the celebrity lawyer who gave the video to law enforcement, has said that it is a recording of a different incident than the earlier tape, which removes any concern about double jeopardy.

R. Kelly Pleads Not Guilty to Sexual Abuse Charges

R&amp;B; singer R. Kelly pleaded not guilty Monday to 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse.

Kelly appeared in Cook County criminal court in Chicago. In court, Greenberg asked the judge whether his client would have to settle child support payments he owes to post bond, or if he could just pay $100,000. Judge Lawrence E. Flood said Kelly only needed to pay $100,000.

Greenberg told reporters Kelly expected to have the necessary cash Monday evening.

A third was a 24-year-old hairdresser of his, who told prosecutors Kelly tried to force her to perform oral sex on him. Court documents said she reported that incident to law enforcement officials within two years of when it occurred and handed over a shirt she was wearing that day, which DNA analysis showed had his semen on it. Greenberg has said it may have been a consensual encounter.

That same girl is now the fourth alleged victim in the new cases against him, prosecutors said. They also have said they have a different tape of Kelly and the girl having sex, and Michael Avenatti, the celebrity lawyer who gave the video to law enforcement, has said it is a recording of a different incident than the earlier tape.

Prosecutors in Chicago have put forward four victims, including one teenage autograph seeker whom they say Kelly, the R&amp;B; singer, had sex with for months beginning when she was 16 years old.

Another was a girl he met at a restaurant at her 16th birthday celebration.

A third was a 24-year-old hair dresser of his, who told prosecutors that Kelly tried to force her to perform oral sex on him. Court documents said she reported that incident to law enforcement within two years of when it occurred and handed over a shirt she was wearing that day, which DNA analysis showed had his semen on it. It was not clear why Kelly was not charged in connection with this at the time. His lawyer, Steven Greenberg, has said it may have been a consensual encounter.

For years, Kelly, whose real name is Robert Kelly, seemed largely immune to accusations that he sexually abused minors and kept women in a cultlike environment, shielded by a series of nondisclosure agreements tied to confidential settlements with women who say he victimized them. But his behavior came under renewed scrutiny in January after the documentary “Surviving R. Kelly,” which chronicled the allegations against him, aired on Lifetime.

He was arrested in 2002 on child pornography charges, stemming from a tape prosecutors said showed him having sex with and urinating on an underage girl. But in 2008, he was acquitted on all counts after the girl prosecutors said was in the tape refused to testify.

That same girl is now the fourth victim in the new cases against him, prosecutors said. They also have said that they have a different tape of Kelly and the girl having sex, and Michael Avenatti, the celebrity lawyer who gave the video to law enforcement, has said that it is a recording of a difference incident than the earlier tape, which removes any concern about double jeopardy.

Avenatti announced on Twitter on Monday morning that he had obtained a second video of Kelly “engaged in sexual assault of a minor” and that he would give it to prosecutors.

Kelly had not yet posted bond — which was set at $1 million — Monday morning. Kelly’s next court date will be March 22.

R. Kelly Pleads Not Guilty to Sex Abuse Charges

R. Kelly pleaded not guilty in Chicago on Monday, days after he was indicted on 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse. Kelly appeared in court in an orange jumpsuit with “DOC” printed on the back.

After decades of sexual misconduct allegations, a public trial and private settlements, Kelly, 52, was charged with 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse in connection with four victims, three of whom were underage, according to the Cook County state’s attorney, Kim Foxx.

Judge John Fitzgerald Lyke Jr. of the Circuit Court of Cook County said at Kelly’s bail hearing Saturday that the singer was prohibited from having contact with any of the victims or anyone under the age of 18. He was instructed to surrender his passport. Bond was set at $250,000 for each of the four cases against him. As of early Saturday afternoon, Kelly had not posted bond.

If he is convicted, Kelly could face a prison term of three to seven years for each count of aggravated criminal sexual abuse.

Kelly, whose real name is Robert Kelly, was accused of attempted criminal sexual assault with a fourth victim. Court documents said that she reported the episode to law enforcement authorities within two years.

Kelly’s lawyer, Steven Greenberg, denied any wrongdoing by his client. After Kelly surrendered to police, Greenberg insisted that the women were lying.

“He’s going to be vindicated on all of these charges,” Greenberg said. “One by one, if it has to be.”

Kelly has been indicted before. He was arrested in 2002 on child pornography charges stemming from a video that prosecutors said showed him having sex with and urinating on an underage girl. After six years, he was acquitted of all counts against him.

Jurors in that case said that a significant problem for the prosecution was that the girl in the video did not testify. More than a dozen witnesses identified her, but Kelly’s lawyers successfully argued that her identity could not be known for certain.

Allegations against Kelly stretch back decades, but the accusations received renewed attention after the six-part documentary “Surviving R. Kelly” aired on Lifetime in January.

This article originally appeared in <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/23/arts/r-kelly-bond-court.html" id="d9d2be34-ba3d-34ae-ab55-11b2df3fd234">The New York Times</a>.

A judge set bond for R&amp;B; singer R. Kelly at $1 million Saturday, a day after he turned himself in to police in Chicago to face sexual abuse charges.

Judge Sets Bond for R. Kelly at $1 Million in Sexual Abuse Cases

The program cataloged allegations of abuse going back to the 1990s, and accused Kelly of holding women in cultlike conditions, keeping them from their families and exerting enormous control over their lives, demanding they ask permission to bathe, eat or go to the bathroom.

The allegations in the documentary had been made before, but the culture around sexual misconduct had changed tremendously since Kelly’s last trial, in the wake of the #MeToo movement and the continued fallout from abuse by Catholic priests.

In the midst of a ferocious outcry, his record label, RCA, a division of Sony Music Entertainment, dropped him two weeks after the documentary aired. Investigators in Illinois, Georgia and New York began looking into his conduct.

“I am cautiously optimistic,” said Kenyette Tisha Barnes, co-founder of the #MuteRKelly social media campaign. “The difference between this indictment and the last indictment is that you didn’t have the degree of public pressure to get him convicted in 2008. It was actually the opposite — more people wanted him acquitted.”

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Elizabeth A. Harris and Robert Chiarito

Articles written by the author

Key witness is cooperating in case against R&B star

R. Kelly released from jail after making bail on sexual abuse charges

R. Kelly Released From Jail After Making Bail on Sexual Abuse Charges

R. Kelly Pleads Not Guilty to Sexual Abuse Charges

R. Kelly Pleads Not Guilty to Sexual Abuse Charges

R. Kelly Pleads Not Guilty to Sex Abuse Charges

Judge Sets Bond for R. Kelly at $1 Million in Sexual Abuse Cases

Judge Sets Bond for R. Kelly at $1 Million in Sexual Abuse Cases