In this June 26, 2019 file photo, R&B singer R. Kelly, center, arrives at the Leighton Criminal Court building for an arraignment on sex-related felonies in Chicago. Federal prosecutors announced charges Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020, against three men accused of threatening and intimidating women who have accused Kelly of abuse, including one man suspected of setting fire to a vehicle in Florida. (AP Photo/Amr Alfiky, File)
Federal prosecutors announced charges Wednesday against three men accused of threatening and intimidating women who have accused R&B singer R. Kelly of abuse, including one man suspected of setting fire to a vehicle in Florida.
A longtime friend of the indicted singer offered to pay a victim $500,000 to keep her from cooperating in Kelly's prosecution, authorities said, while a manager and adviser of Kelly threatened to release sexually explicit photographs of a woman who sued Kelly.
The Grammy-award winning musician has denied ever abusing anyone and has pleaded not guilty to dozens of state and federal sexual misconduct charges in Illinois, Minnesota, and New York.
The charges range from sexual assault to heading a racketeering scheme aimed at supplying Kelly with girls. Kelly also is accused of having unprotected sex with a girl in 2015 without disclosing he had herpes.
Prosecutors described a third man accused of intimidating witnesses as being related to a former Kelly publicist. They said Michael Williams, 37, of Valdosta, Georgia, traveled to Florida in June and set fire to an SUV parked outside a residence where one of Kelly's victims was staying.
Williams also conducted Internet searches for "the detonation properties of fertilizer and diesel fuel, witness intimidation and witness tampering and countries that do not have extradition with the United States," authorities said in a news release.
A message was sent to Williams' attorney seeking comment.
Daniel Loria, Editorial Director at Box Office Pro, joined Wake Up With Cheddar to give predictions for the weekend, which will see three major films debut, as 'West Side Story', 'Don't Look Up' and 'Being the Ricardos' all hit theaters.
Politico Tech Policy Reporter Rebecca Kern joined Wake Up With Cheddar to recap Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri's testimony to Congress, and look ahead to new safety features on the horizon for the social media giant.
Carlo and Baker wrap up the week talking about the Biden economic boom that no one seems to notice, a verdict in the Jussie Smollett case, the first Starbucks union in America and the pleasures of the "dude nod."
In attempts to combat online violence, the UNFPA has officially launched a 'bodyright' campaign in hopes to call policymakers and tech companies to stand up to protect the online presence of social media users. Chief of the Gender and Human Rights Branch at the United Nations Population Fund Nafissatou J. Diop, joined Cheddar to discuss more.
'Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings' made history as the first Asian-led marvel movie, staring Simu Liu. It was also the first movie in the pandemic era that Disney allowed to be purely in theatres and available nowhere else for 45 days, making over $418 million globally, in theatres. Director and co-writer of the film, Destin Daniel Cretton, joins Cheddar News.
A new bill in Congress shows just how bipartisan cannabis really is. Rep. David Joyce, a Republican from Ohio, teamed up with progressive Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on a cannabis expungement bill. Cheddar cannabis reporter Chloe Aiello spoke with the congressman about the legislation.
Rainmaker Games bills itself as a blockchain-based organization founded in the metaverse, built on a new type of gaming ecosystem called play-to-earn. The company announced a $6.5 million seed round after it was founded just this year. Rainmaker Games CEO and founder Will Deane joins Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss.
As the saying goes, one man's trash is another man's treasure. That's exactly what artist David Anasagasti, also known as Ahol Sniffs Glue, was thinking when he created his scavenger hunt during Art Basel. Nearly 100 winners who followed the clues were able to get their piece of art signed, plus an NFT minted artwork. Artist Ahol Sniffs Glue joins Cheddar News to discuss the event and his exhibit.
A judge has granted Britney Spears the right to begin executing documents on her own behalf. For the last 14 years, Spears was unable to sign off on her own paperwork due to her recently terminated conservatorship.
