Sunday 18 May 2008

R. Kelly sex tape payoff scandal emerges as porn trial finally begins...


Sources familiar with the matter tell the Sun-Times the secret hearings dealt with the potential trial testimony of the Atlanta woman, who allegedly had a threesome with Kelly and the girl who appears in the video for which he faces charges. The Atlanta woman can identify the girl and testify she was underage at the time, sources said.

The Atlanta woman received immunity from state and federal prosecution in exchange for her testimony, sources said. Federal immun- ity was necessary to protect her from charges of transporting child pornography across state lines.

During the April hearings, Gaughan was told that the Kelly aide offered the Atlanta woman money for a sex tape featuring Kelly. At one point, the aide arranged for her to take a polygraph test to determine whether she was telling the truth about having the tape, sources said.

Eventually, the woman received money and arranged for the tape to be sent to Kelly’s aide, who is not an attorney, sources said.

It is not clear whether Kelly knew about the alleged deal.