R. Kelly Case Prosecutor Feels Pressure After Jussie Smollett Decision

BYAron A.Updated on September 26, 202213.8K Views

&B singer R. Kelly (R) and his attorney Steve Greenberg leave Cook County jail after Kelly posted $100 thousand bond on February 25, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. Kelly was being held after turning himself in to face ten counts of aggravated sexual abuse.

Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx is under a microscope.

The decision to drop the charges against Jussie Smollett came with its fair share of scrutiny for Kim Foxx. The Cook County State's Attorney, who's also the prosecutor on R. Kelly's criminal trial, shared an op-ed yesterday explaining her decision and inviting another investigation of the incident. However, her decision came with a price and now, she's reportedly feeling the pressure in R. Kelly's case.

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According to The Blast, sources close to the State's Attorney office said that Kim Foxx is feeling the public pressure after making the controversial move to drop the charges against Jussie Smollett. Despite the negative press, the people close to her believe she'll handle R. Kelly's case properly.

Kim Foxx has received backlash from not only everyday citizens but also from the highest levels of office. Rahm Emanuel, the mayor of Chicago, held a press conference after the decision was made to dismiss Smollett's charges, criticizing Foxx for letting the actor go without repercussions. Additionally, President Donald Trump called for an FBI investigation of Smollett's claims, in hopes to see him go to trial.

The National District Attorneys Association also blasted her after news broke that she allegedly spoke to Michelle Obama's former aide about Smollett's case. They said that she “should not take advice from politically connected friends of the accused.”

While Foxx may have had some sort of leniency towards Smollett, she's been adamant about pursuing a case against R. Kelly.

About The Author

Aron A.

Aron A. is a features editor for HotNewHipHop. Beginning his tenure at HotNewHipHop in July 2017, he has comprehensively documented the biggest stories in the culture over the past few years. Throughout his time, Aron’s helped introduce a number of buzzing up-and-coming artists to our audience, identifying regional trends and highlighting hip-hop from across the globe. As a Canadian-based music journalist, he has also made a concerted effort to put spotlights on artists hailing from North of the border as part of Rise & Grind, the weekly interview series that he created and launched in 2021. Aron also broke a number of stories through his extensive interviews with beloved figures in the culture. These include industry vets (Quality Control co-founder Kevin "Coach K" Lee, Wayno Clark), definitive producers (DJ Paul, Hit-Boy, Zaytoven), cultural disruptors (Soulja Boy), lyrical heavyweights (Pusha T, Styles P, Danny Brown), cultural pioneers (Dapper Dan, Big Daddy Kane), and the next generation of stars (Lil Durk, Latto, Fivio Foreign, Denzel Curry). Aron also penned cover stories with the likes of Rick Ross, Central Cee, Moneybagg Yo, Vince Staples, and Bobby Shmurda.