R. Kelly asks Trump to commute his 30-year sentence for sex trafficking

R. Kelly has formally requested that former U.S. President Donald Trump commute his 30-year prison sentence for racketeering and sex trafficking convictions. The clemency request was made public this week and is listed as pending by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of the Pardon Attorney.

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This appears to be a random submission through the public portal which anyone can submit an application through.

A White House official stated that the submission appears to be a random one through a public portal and does not indicate that the request is currently being tracked by the team reviewing clemency requests. The official emphasized that the White House has a thorough review process, with the President holding the ultimate decision-making power.

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The submission of a pardon request should not be interpreted to mean anything other than an individual has chosen to submit a request.

Kelly, convicted in Brooklyn federal court in 2021, has been serving his sentence since 2022 at a federal correctional facility in North Carolina. This is not the first time his legal team has sought clemency from Trump. Last June, Kelly's lawyers alleged he suffered a medication overdose administered by prison staff, leading to hospitalization and his removal from Duke University Hospital against medical advice. His lawyers claimed the alleged overdose occurred after he was placed in solitary confinement, shortly after filing an emergency motion for release due to alleged danger and government misconduct. The filing also reportedly stated Kelly was removed before a necessary surgery for a blood clot issue.

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The team that reviews clemency requests at the White House is not tracking this request at this time.