R. Kelly charged with prostitution and solicitation in Minnesota
R. Kelly has just been hit with even more criminal charges.
Authorities in Minnesota on Monday charged the R&B singer with two prostitution and solicitation charges, The Associated Press reports. This comes in connection with a 2001 incident in which Kelly allegedly paid an underage girl he met at a concert $200 to come back to his hotel room and take off her clothes.
Kelly was in February charged with 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse and in July was arrested on federal charges over his alleged abuse of underage girls. Kelly, who was recently denied bail in New York, has rejected the allegations, and his attorney on Monday called the new Minnesota charges "beyond absurd."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Hennepin County Attorney Michael Freeman on Monday said that there was "sexual contact" between Kelly and the alleged victim, although he said that there wasn't "sexual intercourse," reports Fox 9's Paul Blume. "We're going to make sure that justice is done in Minnesota," he added.
Freeman also said in response to those who might say this is "piling on" after all of the other charges that Kelly has faced, "Frankly, Minnesota victims deserve their day in court and that’s why we’re here," Variety reports. "In my view, too many prosecutors are ignoring victims. This one doesn’t." He suggested it's possible that the case won't go to trial, but said that this "doesn’t disturb me whatsoever" provided that Kelly "spends time for the crimes he's committed elsewhere."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
Caroline Quentin shares her favourite books
The Week Recommends The actor shares works by Patrick Hamilton, Liz Knight and Elizabeth Taylor
By The Week UK Published
-
Crossword: December 20, 2024
The Week's daily crossword puzzle
By The Week Staff Published
-
Sudoku medium: December 20, 2024
The Week's daily medium sudoku puzzle
By The Week Staff Published
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditions
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $1.55 billion
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Bangladesh dealing with worst dengue fever outbreak on record
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Glacial outburst flooding in Juneau destroys homes
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Scotland seeking 'monster hunters' to search for fabled Loch Ness creature
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published