R Kelly Pleads The Fifth

R Kelly has elected to employ his fifth amendment right to avoid self-incrimination in a civil case brought against him over allegations of sexual abuse. Kelly’s lawyers are concerned that him providing testimony in the civil proceedings could end up influencing the concurrent criminal cases he is fighting in the states of New York, Illinois and Minnesota.

The musician was sued by Heather Williams in February on the same day that criminal charges were brought against him in Illinois. She claims that she met Kelly in 1998 when she was sixteen. He invited her to his studio on the promise of allowing her to appear in a music video, but instead they became involved in a sexual relationship.

The star’s legal team failed in an attempt to have the case dismissed due to the statute of limitations. Judge Moira S Johnson rejected those efforts, saying that Williams may not have known as a minor that she had been abused.

Kelly’s team asked for the case to be put on hold pending the criminal proceedings. Or at least that their client could “plead the fifth”, ie employ his right under the US constitution to avoid being forced to incriminate himself.

Read More R. Kelly articles:

What Would R. Kelly Say About Jacqees


Why Is Everyone Trying To Bring Down R. Kelly?