Dec 6, 2019

R. Kelly charged with bribing official to obtain false ID for underage girl

R. Kelly and his attorney at the Leighton Criminal Courthouse on Sept. 17 in Chicago. Photo: Antonio Perez - Pool via Getty Images

R&B singer R. Kelly was charged on Thursday with bribing an Illinois government employee to create a false ID for 15-year-old singer Aaliyah Haughton one day before marrying her in August 1994, the Washington Post reports.

The big picture: Kelly is one of 11 reported influential figures to face charges or convictions over accusations of sexual offenses since the #MeToo movement went viral in 2017.

Details: Kelly was charged in February on 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse involving four victims, and in May on 11 counts involving aggravated criminal sexual assault. He is being held without bail.

  • He was acquitted in 2008 on child pornography charges.

Go deeper: Global #MeToo movement has resulted in 6 convictions, 5 charges

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Axios
Updated 13 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

  1. Global: Total confirmed cases as of 7 a.m. ET: 32,870,631 — Total deaths: 994,534 — Total recoveries: 22,749,163— Map.
  2. U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 7 a.m. ET: 7,079,689 — Total deaths: 204,499 — Total recoveries: 2,750,459 — Total tests: 100,492,536 — Map.
  3. States: New York daily cases top 1,000 for first time since June — U.S. reports over 55,000 new coronavirus cases.
  4. Health: The long-term pain of the mental health pandemic — Fewer than 10% of Americans have coronavirus antibodies.
  5. Business: Millions start new businesses in time of coronavirus.
  6. Education: Summer college enrollment offers a glimpse of COVID-19's effect.
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Stef W. Kight, Sam Baker
22 mins ago - Politics & Policy

How the Supreme Court could decide the election

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

The Supreme Court isn't just one of the most pressing issues in the presidential race — the justices may also have to decide parts of the election itself.

Why it matters: Important election-related lawsuits are already making their way to the court. And close results in swing states, with disputes over absentee ballots, set up the potential for another Bush v. Gore scenario, election experts say.

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Axios
7 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Graham hopes his panel will approve Amy Coney Barrett by late October

Sen. Lindsey Graham during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Sept. 24, 2020 in Washington, DC. Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images

Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) told Fox News Saturday he expects confirmation hearings on Judge Amy Coney Barrett's nomination to the Supreme Court to start Oct. 12 and for his panel to approve her by Oct. 26.

Why it matters: That would mean the final confirmation vote could take place on the Senate floor before the Nov. 3 presidential election.

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