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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Sara Fischer

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Drive-in movie theaters are making a comeback

Illustration: Annelise Capossela/Axios

Drive-in movie theaters, the symbol of a bygone era before cellphones and constant distraction, are suddenly reemerging as a popular form of entertainment during the coronavirus crisis.

Why it matters: Indoor movie theaters are closed, but people still crave entertainment and a chance to get out of their houses. Watching a movie from the safety of a car is the next best thing.

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Axios

Updated 28 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

Global: Total confirmed cases as of 7:30 a.m. ET: 11,093,182 — Total deaths: 525,491 — Total recoveries — 5,890,052 — Map.
U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 7:30 a.m. ET: 2,795,163 — Total deaths: 129,437 — Total recoveries: 790,404 — Total tested: 34,213,497 — Map.
States: ICU beds in Arizona's hot spot reach near capacity.
Public health: The states where face coverings are mandatory — Fauci says it has been a "very disturbing week" for the spread of the coronavirus in the U.S.
Economy: The economy may recover just quickly enough to kill political interest in more stimulus.

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Rashaan Ayesh

29 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Kimberly Guilfoyle tests positive for coronavirus

Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images

Kimberly Guilfoyle, Donald Trump Jr.'s partner and a top fundraising official for the Trump campaign, tested positive for the coronavirus on Friday, The New York Times reports.

Why it matters: Guilfoyle is the third person in President Trump’s circle known to have contracted the coronavirus. Vice President Mike Pence's press secretary tested positive, as did a personal valet who served Trump food.