R. Kelly's Clemency Bid Sparks Team Rift

A dispute has erupted within R. Kelly's camp over who is leading the imprisoned singer's bid for a presidential pardon. One faction claims it is now officially in charge, but the attorney of record calls those claims 'unsubstantiated.'

The infighting began this week after Kelly filed a petition to commute his 30-year sentence for sexual misconduct convictions. The clash pits Chicago-based attorney Beau Brindley, who is Kelly's attorney of record, against Atlanta-based attorney Lela Schmidt.

Schmidt says she has formally submitted a clemency petition asking President Trump for mercy on Kelly's behalf. She has been working with Keith Calbert, who holds Kelly's power of attorney. In a letter, Calbert claims Brindley's statements to the press are 'total BS.'

Brindley, however, says he has been working with Kelly for a long time on the clemency bid and intends to pursue it through every legal avenue. He declined to comment on Calbert's claims, noting that Calbert is neither an attorney nor a legal representative. Calbert insists he oversees Kelly's affairs.

Kelly is serving a combined 31-year sentence from two convictions in 2021 and 2022, one in Brooklyn and one in Chicago. In the New York case, he was found guilty of racketeering, sexual exploitation of children, forced labor, and Mann Act violations. In Chicago, he was convicted of producing child pornography and enticing a minor.

This split in Kelly's team raises questions about the effectiveness of his clemency efforts. The legal battle could delay the process and add more negative publicity around the already scandal-ridden singer.

It's worth noting that clemency petitions are rarely granted, especially for celebrities convicted of such serious crimes. Yet Kelly's team seems ready to use every possible leverage, despite internal disagreements.