- The Cook County State's Attorney's Office dropped its charges against R. Kelly.
- Kim Foxx charged Kelly in 2019, following the release of the documentary Surviving R. Kelly.
Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx said her office dropped the charges against R. Kelly in Chicago, Illinois, because "justice has been served" in federal convictions.
"I understand how hard it was for these victims to come forward and tell their stories. I applaud their courage and have the utmost respect for everyone who came forward," Foxx said in a press release. "While this may not be the result they were expecting, due to the sentences that Mr. Kelly is facing, we do feel that justice has been served."
Foxx initially brought charges of aggravated criminal sexual abuse and assault against Kelly in 2019, following the release of the documentary Surviving R. Kelly.
"My office will direct our resources to find justice for other victims of sexual abuse who do not have the power of a documentary to bring their abusers to light," Foxx said.
During a press conference recording by WLS Foxx said that one survivor is disappointed that "she would not have her day in court. Some of our survivors, some of those who have been named in our petitions, have had justice in courtrooms that are not here."
In September 2021, Kelly was found guilty of racketeering and sex-trafficking charges in New York stemming from decades-long allegations of sexual abuse of women and girls. In June 2022, he was sentenced to 30 years in prison. In August 2022, Illinois federal court also found Kelly guilty of three counts of child pornography and three counts of child enticement, Insider previously reported. Those charges could add decades to his sentence.
"Due to the extensive sentences that these convictions hold, our office has decided not to continue to expend our limited resources and court time with the indictments that we previously charged Mr. Kelly," Foxx said, during the press conference. "Mr. Kelly is looking at significant jail time. We believe that justice and accountability has been served."