R. Kelly faces federal trial on charges of child porn and obstruction
FILE - In this Sept. 17, 2019, file photo, R. Kelly appears during a hearing at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse in Chicago. The R&B star gained weight and lost money while he awaits a sex-trafficking trial that starts in earnest next week, his lawyers said Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2021, at a court hearing. The revelations came as U.S. District Judge Ann M. Donnelly in New York made a series of rulings to narrow down what evidence can be shown to jurors. (Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune via AP, Pool, File)
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Nearly two months after a 30-year prison sentence in New York on charges of federal racketeering and sex- trafficking, disgraced musician R. Kelly is set to return to court for a second federal trial today, this time on charges of child pornography and obstruction of justice, in his hometown of Chicago.

According to NBC News, jury selection is scheduled to begin Monday in a case that stems from the complaints of several women who allege that Kelly, 55, lured them into sex acts while they were underage. At least two are expected to testify, according to court documents.

This trial is expected to resurface accusations brought against Kelly, 14 years ago in a state trial on charges of child pornography for which he was eventually acquitted.

Illinois federal prosecutors allege that Kelly obstructed justice in that 2008 criminal trial in Cook County, which involved a video recording of Kelly allegedly sexually abusing a minor.

The singer will be tried alongside his former business manager, Derrel McDavid, and associate, Milton “June” Brown, who are both accused of conspiring with Kelly to intimidate and bribe witnesses and cover up evidence in the 2008 trial, according to filed federal charges. Brown pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.

R. Kelly has denied any wrongdoing.

According to NPR, part of the charges stemmed from Kelly’s marriage to the late singer Aaliyah, who was 15 when Kelly was 27. Kelly was convicted of bribing an official to grant Aaliyah a fake ID.

Several alleged victims of R. Kelly’s sexual abuse shared their stories in the Lifetime docuseries Surviving R. Kelly, which debuted in 2019 and helped bring more legal attention to the accusations.

ABC7 Chicago legal analyst Gil Soffer said if convicted, R. Kelly could face half-a-century in prison.

“He could face an even longer term here, upwards of 50 years,” Soffer said. “Because these charges are broad and they include enticing a minor to come into the state for purposes of producing child pornography. And producing child pornography. There is a lot of heft to these charges.”

Hailing from Charlotte North Carolina, born litterateur Ezekiel J. Walker earned a B.A. in Psychology at Winston Salem State University. Walker later published his first creative nonfiction book and has...

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