According to reports by TMZ, the FBI has commenced an investigation on R. Kelly for arranging a coast-to-coast flight trip for an underage girl even as law enforcement officials around the country continue to look into the singer’s past in the wake of Lifetime’s ‘Surviving R. Kelly’ docu-series.
Azriel Clary, one of the alleged victims featured in the explosive documentary, was reportedly flown from Phoenix to Orlando in May 2015 when she just 17 years old which effectively means Kelly possibly violated the Mann Act.
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The Mann Act is a federal law against the transportation of a minor for the purposes of prostitution or “sexual activity for which any person can be charged with a criminal offense.”
According to sources connected to Clary’s family, the trip was facilitated by a woman who served as Kelly’s assistant at that time.
But sources in Kelly’s camp argue the embattled singer did nothing wrong because the assistant received a letter of consent from Clary’s mother.
The letter which was obtained by TMZ dated September 2015 and even though the flight under investigation took place months before, Kelly’s team reportedly believes it shows enough proof that Clary’s family was willing to let her travel.
Kelly’s attorney Steve Greenberg has since denied any violation of the Mann Act and claimed the story was “flawed.”
“Mr. Kelly has not violated the law,” Greenberg said. “Certainly not the Mann Act. The story has flawed factual predicates. Beyond that, we remain unaware of any investigation, anywhere.”