R. Kelly Asks Trump to Commute 30-Year Sentence

R. Kelly has formally requested that President Donald Trump commute his 30-year prison sentence. The request, made public this week by the Office of the Pardon Attorney, is currently pending and seeks a commutation rather than a full pardon. This development was first reported by the Chicago Tribune.

The singer was sentenced in May 2022 to 30 years in federal prison after being convicted of racketeering and sex trafficking charges. The charges stemmed from a pattern of abuse involving underage girls and women that spanned decades. Kelly was found guilty on all counts by a jury in September 2021 following a trial in New York.

Kelly's legal team has been pursuing various avenues to appeal his conviction and sentence. The commutation request to President Trump represents a direct appeal to the executive branch for clemency. Commutation of a sentence means the punishment is reduced, but the conviction remains on the record. A pardon, on the other hand, would forgive the crime and remove the conviction.

President Trump, during his term, issued numerous pardons and commutations, often to individuals with connections or those who had supporters advocating on their behalf. The Office of the Pardon Attorney handles the review of clemency requests submitted to the President. The specific details of R. Kelly's request and the grounds upon which it is based have not been fully disclosed in the public records.