R. Kelly attorney cites jail quarantine in request to delay trial

Attorneys for singer R. Kelly said a 14-day quarantine period at his jail has left them without enough time to prepare for his upcoming trial on sex trafficking charges and asked a judge to delay proceedings, The Associated Press reported.

Attorney Deveraux Cannick told U.S. District Judge Ann Donnelly in a letter the quarantine has exacerbated an already “herculean effort” to get ready for the trial. 

The Grammy-winning R&B artist was transferred to Brooklyn’s Metropolitan Detention Center from his native city of Chicago on June 22, requiring a two-week quarantine period. 

Cannick argued in the letter that Kelly, whose real name is Robert Sylvester Kelly, hasn’t been able to meet with his new attorneys due to his quarantine, saying that proceeding with his trial will rob Kelly “of effective and meaningful representation,” according to the AP. 

“Robert is anxious to have his day in court; however not at the expense of his Sixth Amendment rights,” Cannick wrote in the letter. 

Cannick added that once the quarantine ends, they will be forced to compete for one of a limited number of conference rooms or meet in a room with other inmates and attorneys present.

“The nature of the evidence here does not lend itself to open frank discussions in such an environment,” he wrote. 

Kelly, 54, is accused of having his managers, bodyguards, and employees run a sex trafficking enterprise, recruiting young women and girls for sex. 

Federal prosecutors said that those in Kelly’s circle recruited girls at concerts and other venues and arranged for them to travel to see the artist.  

The “I Believe I Can Fly” singer has been one of the few notable celebrities who have been accused or convicted of sexual abuse allegations. Others include comedian Bill Cosby and film executive Harvey Weinstein. 

Kelly has denied the allegations of abuse, the AP noted. 

The Hill has reached out to R. Kelly’s attorney for comment.