Imprisoned singer R. Kelly submitted a formal request for sentence commutation to U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday, seeking to shorten his 30-year prison term for sex trafficking and racketeering. The petition is listed as pending with the White House.
Kelly, 59, was convicted in September 2021 of leading a criminal enterprise that recruited women and underage girls for illegal sexual activity. He later received a separate 20-year sentence in 2022 for child pornography offenses. He is currently ineligible for release until January 2046.
A White House official said the submission appears to have been filed through a public portal. Last year, Kelly sought a new trial and full pardon; he is now requesting only a sentence reduction.