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CNN Live Today

Singer R. Kelly Faces Possible Child Porn Charges

Aired June 05, 2002 - 13:32   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: And still on the legal front, Chicago Police and the district attorney are holding a news conference at 3:00 p.m. Eastern to talk about possible child pornography charges against singer R. Kelly. The "Chicago Sun-Times" reports a grand jury indictment against him will be announced later today.

CNN's Jeff Flock is in Chicago with more right now -- Jeff.

JEFF FLOCK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Carol, important to say that at this point we cannot confirm that "Chicago Sun-Times" report that there will be a grand jury indictment. What we do know, however, is that there has been a long time Chicago Police and Chicago -- Cook County state's attorney investigation into R. Kelly, and allegations specifically that he had sex with underaged girls and videotaped at least some of those alleged liaisons. That much we know.

We also know, as you report there, in about an hour and a half's time, both the Chicago Police Department as well as members of the Cook County State's Attorney's Office, specifically Dick -- Dick Devine, the Cook County state's attorney, will be meeting with reporters to make some announcement in connection with the R. Kelly investigation.

Now, R. Kelly is a man perhaps you know, as a Grammy award- winning R&B singer, a man that maybe you best know for that song "I Believe I Can Fly." Now, the allegations that are being made now go to a videotape, a videotape that has now been bootlegged, and is apparently available out on the street -- on the streets of major cities like Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York. It allegedly depicts Kelly having sex with a then 14-year-old girl. This is believed, at least according to the "Chicago Sun-Times" report, believed to be the crux of the case against Kelly.

Even the "Sun-Times" report does not allege that Kelly will be charged with having sex with underaged girls. The charge, they say, is going to be child pornography. But we expect to know a heck of a lot more in about an hour and a half's time, when we get to hear from the Cook County state's attorney, as well as Chicago Police.

That's the latest from here, Carol, back to you.

LIN: Thanks so much, Jeff. We will be watching as well.

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