Musician R. Kelly has requested to be released from prison to avoid the spread of coronavirus.
Kelly’s lawyers filed the request to Chicago and Brooklyn federal judges for release from Metropolitan Correctional Center, according to a report published Thursday by Fox News.
As R. Kelly awaits trial on child pornography and other charges — he wants out of federal prison — citing coronavirus concernshttps://t.co/rth9RXyhdB
— KUTV 2News (@KUTV2News) March 27, 2020
The lawyers claimed the federal prison has a small supply of hand sanitizer and soap, and inmates are kept with a cellmate in small quarters.
Kelly’s lawyers also claimed the musician, who’s currently in jail in Chicago, has “existing health issues” and should be released while he awaits trial.
“The health risk to Mr. Kelly, because of his age and existing health issues, especially considering the conditions at the MCC, necessitates his release on bail,” the filing said. (RELATED: R. Kelly’s Legal And Financial Problems Continue To Pile Up As He Sits In Chicago Jail)
“The courts have long recognized that there is no greater necessity than keeping a defendant alive, no matter the charge,” the filing continued.
Kelly faces federal and state charges connected to criminal sexual abuse. He is currently awaiting trial for creating and possessing child pornography and sexual exploitation of a minor. The trial was set for April, but Kelly’s lawyer, Steven Greenberg, claimed the trial could be delayed due to new federal charges.
As previously reported, Kelly was hit with brand new federal charges Feb. 14 stemming from allegations that he sexually abused another minor for four years starting in 1997.