R. Kelly joins the growing list of federal inmates trying to get out of jail because of the coronavirus.
"The health risk to Mr. Kelly, b/c of his age &
b/c of the multiple surgeries he has undergone, including a surgery while incarcerated...necessitates his temporary release."
"The health risk to Mr. Kelly, b/c of his age &
b/c of the multiple surgeries he has undergone, including a surgery while incarcerated...necessitates his temporary release."
NEW: Brooklyn federal prosecutors now oppose R. Kelly's request to get out of jail in Chicago b/c of Covid19. Echoing similar letters in other cases, prosecutors say that Kelly has "access to soap & cleaning supplies at no cost." They add that there are no cases in Chicago jail.
This is a trend happening around the country as described here by colleagues @WRashbaum @BenWeiserNYT
nytimes.com/2020/03/30/us/…
nytimes.com/2020/03/30/us/…
Here's the latest, for example, on the situation at Rikers Island, NYC's main jail, where 650 inmates have already been released but others are still inside cleaning their bars w/shampoo and covering phones w/socks to protect themselves.
w/@Jan_Ransom
nytimes.com/2020/03/30/nyr…
w/@Jan_Ransom
nytimes.com/2020/03/30/nyr…
The story reveals that the city's five DAs wrote to Mayor de Blasio today saying that while they understand the risks of COVID19 to Rikers inmates, the release process has been "seemingly haphazard" & has led to people who pose a risk to public safety getting out.
