R. Kelly Petitions Trump to Slash 31-Year Prison Sentence

Disgraced R&B singer R. Kelly has formally applied for executive clemency, asking U.S. President Donald Trump to commute his 31-year federal prison sentence for sex trafficking, racketeering and child exploitation-related convictions.

The clemency application, filed through the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of the Pardon Attorney, is currently listed as pending. Kelly is seeking a commutation of his sentence rather than a full presidential pardon, meaning his convictions would remain intact even if his prison term were reduced.

Kelly, whose legal name is Robert Sylvester Kelly, was sentenced to 30 years in 2022 after his New York conviction on racketeering and sex trafficking charges. He later received an additional 20-year sentence in a separate Chicago federal case involving child sexual abuse material and enticement of minors, with most of that sentence running concurrently, extending his total prison term to 31 years.

According to court records, Kelly’s legal team submitted the request as part of ongoing efforts to secure his release. His attorney, Beau Brindley, has also alleged that the singer faces safety concerns while incarcerated, although previous court motions seeking his release on those grounds have been denied.

If the request is denied, Kelly is expected to remain in federal custody until the mid-2040s. The White House has not publicly commented on the pending clemency application.