R. Kelly pleads not guilty to latest sex abuse accusations from new accuser
Kelly wore orange jail garb as he stood next to his attorney, holding his hands behind his back
CHICAGO (AP) — R&B singer R. Kelly on Thursday pleaded not guilty to an updated federal indictment that includes sex abuse allegations involving a new accuser.
Attorney Steve Greenberg entered the plea on the 53-year-old singer’s behalf in Chicago federal court. Kelly stood next to Greenberg in orange jail garb, holding his hands behind his back.
R. KELLY FINANCES REVEALED AHEAD OF BOND HEARING
R&B singer R. Kelly is photographed during booking at a police station in Chicago, on Feb. 22, 2019. (Chicago Police Dept. via AP)
The 13-count superseding indictment was unsealed last month and includes multiple counts accusing Kelly of child pornography. It is largely the same as the original indictment — which also had 13 counts — but includes a reference to a new accuser, referred to only as “Minor 6.”
Prosecutors said during the hearing Thursday that it was likely there would be another superseding indictment against Kelly in the coming weeks, though they provided no details.
R. KELLY’S GIRLFRIENDS ARE RAISING MONEY TO GET HIM MICHAEL JACKSON’S FORMER DEFENSE TEAM: REPORT
Kelly, who has denied ever abusing anyone, faces several dozen counts of state and federal sexual misconduct charges in Illinois, Minnesota and New York, from sexual assault to heading a racketeering scheme aimed at supplying Kelly with girls.
Musician R. Kelly departs the Leighton Criminal Court building after pleading not guilty to 11 additional sex-related charges in Chicago on June 6, 2019. (AP Photo/Amr Alfiky, File)
GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE
The Grammy-award winning musician was jailed in July and has been awaiting trial at a Chicago federal jail a block from the courthouse where he attends pretrial hearings. He has participated in hearings in his New York case by video.
The federal charges in Chicago accuse Kelly of filming himself having sex with underage girls and of paying off potential witnesses in his 2008 trial — at which he was acquitted — to get them to change their stories.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ON FOX BUSINESS
Also Thursday, U.S. District Judge Harry Leinenweber moved the trial date from April to Oct. 13.