R. Kelly Claims Herpes Doesn’t Count As An STD, Wants Exposure Charges Dropped From His Case

R. Kelly

R. Kelly Claims Herpes Doesn’t Count As An STD, Wants Exposure Charges Dropped From His Case

According to reports, R. Kelly’s legal team recently filed legal documents in the Eastern District of NY requesting that the court throw out charges that he allegedly knowingly exposed previous sexual partners to herpes. In March of last year, federal prosecutors accused R. Kelly of exposing two people to an STD, herpes, and charges for the alleged act were added to his already hefty rap sheet.

However, R. Kelly’s attorneys are now arguing that based on how herpes is classified by the New York State Dept. of Health and the World Health Organization, it shouldn’t be defined as an STD such as syphilis or gonorrhea. The legal documents highlight how those organizations define herpes as a virus and not a bacterial venereal disease. Because of this, R. Kelly is hoping that his herpes-related charges will be dismissed.

R. Kelly

Jury selection in R. Kelly’s long-awaited trial is set to begin today, Aug. 9, and testimony is scheduled to start next week on the 18th. According to reports, because of the media attention R. Kelly’s case has received, Judge Ann M. Donnelly has ordered that the jurors remain anonymous and partially sequestered. The jurors’ anonymity is also due to the reported threats and bribes R. Kelly’s alleged victims and witnesses have received.

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