R Kelly has formally appealed to US President Donald Trump for a reduction of his 31-year prison sentence for racketeering, sex trafficking, and child abuse images, in a filing to the Department of Justice. The request was revealed in court records made public this week by the office of the pardon attorney, which reviews filings for executive clemency for the White House.
Background of the Case
The 59-year-old R&B singer, whose full name is Robert Sylvester Kelly, was found guilty in 2021 of leading a criminal enterprise that recruited women and underage girls for illegal sexual activity and pornography. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison. In 2022, he was found guilty on three counts of child abuse images and three counts of child enticement, receiving a 20-year sentence that he is serving nearly entirely concurrently, except for one additional year. He is currently serving his combined 31-year sentence at a North Carolina federal prison and is not eligible for release until January 2046.
Details of the Commutation Request
Kelly's lawyer, Beau Brindley, has been publicly lobbying Trump for more than a year. The request for commutation is listed as currently "pending" and is not a full pardon. In 2025, Brindley filed an emergency motion seeking Kelly's immediate release to home detention, claiming the singer's life was in danger due to an alleged plot by prison officials for a terminally ill inmate to kill him in exchange for early release. The motion was denied.
Brindley wrote at the time: "The only thing that can protect Mr Kelly behind the prison walls now is the fact that now the world is watching. And we will call on the courts and President Trump to help put an end to the corruption that now threatens Mr Kelly's life."
Ongoing Denials and Support Resources
Kelly has repeatedly denied all allegations against him. Information and support for anyone affected by rape or sexual abuse is available from organizations such as Rainn in the US (800-656-4673), Rape Crisis in the UK (0808 802 9999), and 1800Respect in Australia (1800 737 732). Other international helplines can be found at ibiblio.org/rcip/internl.html.
