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

Go deeper

Orion Rummler

Global #MeToo movement has resulted in 7 convictions, 4 charges of influential figures

Bill Cosby, Harvein Weinstein, and Larry Nassar. Photos: Gilbert Carrasquillo/Getty Images, Johannes Eisele/AFP via Getty Images, and Jeff Kowalsky/AFP via Getty Images

Hundreds of powerful people — predominately men — have been accused of sexual offenses since the #MeToo movement went viral in 2017. After film producer Harvey Weinstein's conviction, four of them face charges, while seven have been convicted.

Why it matters: The #MeToo movement focused global attention on previously unchecked sexual misconduct, leading at least 201 powerful men to lose jobs or major positions. But the movement, dubbed a global reckoning, has had few legal consequences for the accused. Here are some of the most notable cases.

Go deeperUpdated Mar 11, 2020 - Economy & Business

Ursula Perano

Wisconsin National Guard commander steps down after sexual assault review

Maj. Gen. Donald Dunbar. Photo: U.S. Army National Guard/Staff Sgt. Michelle Gonzalez

Commander of the Wisconsin National Guard Maj. Gen. Donald Dunbar agreed to resign Monday in light of a new federal sexual assault review that showed significant missteps by the state's Guard, AP reports.

Catch up quick: The National Guard Bureau in Washington reports that the Wisconsin Guard conducted internal investigations in a manner against federal law, Department of Defense and bureau policy. Grievances included mismanaging case records and lacking adequate sexual assault response policies.

Go deeperDec 9, 2019

Kia Kokalitcheva

Uber's first ever safety report cites 6,000 sex assaults in 2 years

Photo: ALASTAIR PIKE/AFP via Getty Images

In a long-awaited safety report, Uber disclosed on Thursday that during 2017 and 2018, U.S. users reported nearly 6,000 incidents of sexual assault of various kinds.

Why it matters: Uber (along with rival Lyft) has been criticized over the years not only for the occurrence of sexual assault and violence on rides, but also for its handling of these incidents, including attempts at downplaying or hiding them.

Go deeperDec 6, 2019