Lawyer Michael Avenatti told CNN that a man, who he called a whistleblower against the singer, handed over the footage to the Cook County State's Attorney's Office in Chicago last weekend.
"My client knows the identity of the girl and R. Kelly," Avenatti told CNN. "He identified the two of them on the videotape. He worked for and has known R. Kelly for decades and he met the girl on a number of occasions."
In response to press inquiries, attached is a stmt regarding our work on the R. Kelly matter since April, including the discovery of new critical video evidence establishing his guilt. We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that this predator is brought to justice. pic.twitter.com/D0dGFzgXlX
— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) February 14, 2019
The news network was given access to the 43-minute recording. The video shows a naked man performing multiple sex acts with a girl, who refers to her body parts as being 14 years old, according to CNN.
One of Kelly's Atlanta accusers will travel to Chicago Thursday evening to meet with Cook County State Attorney Kim Foxx, WSB-TV reported.
#Rkelly ‘s attorney in response to new tape release . @AttorneyGriggs says Atlanta accusers will head to Chicago this week to meet with prosecutors. Expects them to be asked to ID people in the tape. @wsbtv https://t.co/Fo1ROYnP99
— Nicole Carr (@NicoleCarrWSB) February 14, 2019
For decades, Kelly has been at the center of several sexual assault allegations, which he has denied.
In 2002, he was charged with 21 counts of child pornography after a sex tape that allegedly captured the musician urinating on an underage girl surfaced. He pleaded not guilty and was acquitted of all charges in 2008.
In July 2017, BuzzFeed published an article that alleged the Grammy-winning artist "held women against their will in a cult" at his homes in two cities, including one in metro Atlanta.
Lifetime documented both incidents and other alleged sexual assault stories against the entertainer in "Surviving R. Kelly," a six-part, three-night series that aired in January 2019.
Following the docuseries, the Fulton County District Attorney’s Office opened an investigation into claims of his physical, sexual and emotional abuse against women.
Steve Greenberg, Kelly's attorney, told CNN he had not heard of the latest development.
About the Author