New Video May Lead to Indictment Against R. Kelly
Jim DeRogatis, the former Chicago Sun-Times reporter who tracked R. Kelly's alleged serial sexual abuse of Black girls and women for nearly two decades, wrote for The New Yorker yesterday (February 14) that a newly revealed video may lead to additional charges against the singer. An anonymous law enforcement official told DeRogatis that the tape shows the singer sexually assaulting an underage girl and has prompted a pending indictment. Statements by Michael Avenatti, a high-profile attorney who told CNN that he represents a whistleblower that identified Kelly and the survivor, and CNN's own review of the video describe the various abuses in the video.
In response to press inquiries, attached is a stmt regarding our work on the R. Kelly matter since April, including the discovery of new critical video evidence establishing his guilt. We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that this predator is brought to justice. pic.twitter.com/D0dGFzgXlX
— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) February 14, 2019
Below please find a second stmt relating to our investigation of R. Kelly. As a father of two teenage girls myself, I have the utmost faith and confidence in Ms. Foxx and her staff to ensure justice is done. pic.twitter.com/nlvPt4W7Dn
— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) February 15, 2019
Avenatti says that he turned the tape over to the Cook County State's Attorney Kimberly Foxx's office. Foxx, who encouraged more survivors to come forward after "Surviving R. Kelly" aired in January, has not confirmed any reported indictment or arrest plans as of press time.
DeRogatis, CNN and Avenatti's disclosures compelled many activists and allies to reiterate their calls for legal and social accountability on social media:
Another tape.
— Morgan Jerkins (@MorganJerkins) February 14, 2019
Lock this monster up. https://t.co/VsHeYW8xIN
posted without commentary. https://t.co/6T7WiAXGIu
— Tarana (@TaranaBurke) February 14, 2019
If you still caping for R Kelly, speak up so I can block you. https://t.co/Yp55vMxLAv
— Denny ? C2E2 '19 (@DennyVonDoom) February 14, 2019
Survivors have been calling DA Kim Foxx for years. They've been ignored. So pardon me while I'm not planning a victory party because now she's decided to do her job when the lights are too bright.
— Kenyette Tisha Barnes (@LegisEmpress) February 15, 2019
Based on the descriptions from @CNN, the sexual acts inflicted by @rkelly against a 14 YEAR-OLD mirror the sexual abuse seen in the infamous 2002 tape he went to trial over. That’s 10+ years of documented sexual abuse of Black girls. Anyone still working with #RKelly is complicit
— ColorOfChange.org (@ColorOfChange) February 14, 2019