Despite my best efforts, I have yet to succeed in having Sallie Mae recognized as a domestic terrorist organization. But apparently, the NRA, another institution worthy of that title, has been properly categorized as such by officials in San Francisco, Calif.
CHICAGO (AP) — A judge Wednesday set an April 27 trial date in R. Kelly’s federal case in Chicago that accuses the R&B star of child pornography and obstruction of justice.
But Judge Harry Leinenweber left open the possibility of changing the date later after Kelly attorney Steve Greenberg said having to prepare for trials in three other districts meant the defense may not be ready by April.
In all, Kelly faces 40 counts of state and federal sexual misconduct charges in Illinois, Minnesota and New York, from sexual assault to heading a racketeering scheme aimed at finding girls for Kelly.
READ MORE: R. Kelly wants to hire Michael Jackson’s lawyer but needs help paying the fees
Greenberg told the judge Kelly’s legal team had “limited resources” and “voluminous” potential evidence from four cases to wade through, saying a single disc turned over in the New York case contained 9,000 subfolders.
Kelly, 52, stood in court during a Wednesday status hearing in orange jail clothes and slippers, his hands behind his back. Several supporters waved as marshals led him back to jail and he nodded in their direction.
The hearing came a day after Kelly was transferred from a restrictive unit at a Chicago federal jail into the general inmate population despite earlier concerns inmates might target him because he is a celebrity.
Another defense attorney, Michael Leonard, told reporters after Wednesday’s hearing that Kelly was in his best emotional state since his detention in July because he was no longer isolated in jail.
“You can see a kind of unburdening of his spirit now that he is in general population,” Leonard said.
Leinenweber didn’t address a defense motion to reconsider Kelly’s detention and to release him pending trial, saying he’d rule at a Sept. 18 hearing.
READ MORE: R. Kelly girlfriends seek new love pad as Trump Tower condo lease ends
Leonard said Kelly, if released, wanted to reside with two women who lived with him before his arrest, Joycelyn Savage and Azriel Clary. Savage’s parents have alleged she was held against her will by Kelly. She has denied that.
The 13 federal counts in Chicago accuse Kelly of filming himself having sex with underage girls and of paying off potential witnesses in his 2008 trial — at which he was acquitted — to get them to change their stories. Kelly has pleaded not guilty in all the cases but the one in Minnesota, where he will be arraigned later.
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After a career making summer, this week Megan Thee Stallion finally released the official video for Hot Girl Summer, featuring Nicki Minaj, Ty Dolla Sign, and Juicy J.
You’d have to be living under a rock not to have heard “Hot Girl Summer” uttered at least a few dozen times this year. In fact the catchphrase, which was the brainchild of the Houston rapper, got so popular she even took steps to have it trademarked. So now there are visuals to go along with the song and all the memes that have been made in its honor.
According to Complex, in the clip, which was directed by Munachi Osegbu, social media comedian Jaimesha Thomas is seen reading an invite to “the hottest pool party of the summer.” She then does her best to re-enact one of the popular hot girl memes by asking herself “What would Megan do?”
Unfortunately, Thomas’ knees aren’t strong enough to drop it down like her favorite rapper, and the video jump cuts to what does indeed appear to be a hot girl pool party of epic proportions.
READ MORE: 5 Reasons Megan thee Stallion is the kind of friend all of us need
In addition to Thomas, who we ultimately see catch up with Meg, Nicki, and Ty at the function, the video also includes cameos by French Montana, La La Anthony, Ari Lennox, and Rico Nasty.
Previously it was reported that while the rappers and their friends were shooting these visuals in the Mount Olympus neighborhood of L.A., someone tipped off the police that she didn’t have the proper permits, which caused officers to show up during the shoot and shut the entire thing down.
READ MORE: Megan Thee Stallion “hot girl” video shoot shut down in LA
Although the LAPD made them pack up everything and leave, Meg’s team was able to bounce back quickly and just moved the shoot to a new location in Chino Hills.
Hot Girl Summer hit streaming services in early August and went on to enter the Hot 100 at the No. 11 slot, making it the 24 year old’s highest-charting single thus far.
For those who may be asking why we’re still talking about hot girl summer post Labor Day, “We’ve extended the summer, honestly” the rapper recently told Variety at Beautycon in Los Angeles. “We’re gonna drive it until October. Don’t even trip.”
The post Megan Thee Stallion, at long last, drops “Hot Girl Summer” video featuring Nicki Minaj appeared first on theGrio.
