Tuesday, August 10, 2021

R. Kelly Calls Herpes Related Charges Unfair


Last year embattled musician R. Kelly's New York sex trafficking and racketeering case was updated to include charges that he exposed his sexual partners to the Herpes virus without telling them he was infected [click here if you missed that]. 

Kelly wants those charges dismissed...

According to court documents obtained by Radar, the disgraced singer's legal team is demanding several charges relating to sex trafficking and racketeering be dismissed.
Kelly takes issue with the indictment including claims he exposed two of his victims with Herpes. The government says he did this in March 2020.
However, Kelly is arguing for all Herpes related charges to be thrown out. He claims the New York State Dept. of Health and the World Health Organization both say the STD is not an "acute, bacterial venereal disease."
His lawyer writes, "The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies Herpes (HSV-1 and HSV-2) as viruses, not an acute, bacterial venereal disease such as syphilis or gonorrhea.3 As a result of the WHO classification that herpes is not an acute, bacterial venereal disease such as syphilis or gonorrhea, therefore the Court should dismiss those counts which are related to the PHL."
His lawyers say it would be unfair for the government to be allowed to move forward with the claims.

Kellz also wants any charges more than a decade old thrown out.