R&B singer R. Kelly has formally asked President Donald Trump to reduce his 31-year federal prison sentence.
According to records from the White House pardon attorney’s office, the singer, whose real name is Robert Sylvester Kelly, submitted a request for a sentence commutation.
The request does not seek a full pardon. Instead, Kelly is asking for a reduction of his sentence for federal convictions involving racketeering, sex trafficking, and child sexual abuse.
A White House official said Kelly’s request is among many clemency applications submitted through the administration and is not receiving special treatment.
The official explained that all requests go through a standard review process before the president decides whether to approve or reject them.
“This appears to be a random submission via the public portal, where anyone can submit an application,” the official told Rolling Stone.
“The submission of a pardon request should not be viewed as anything other than an individual’s decision to submit a request. The White House’s clemency review staff is not currently tracking this request. The White House has a detailed vetting procedure for all clemency requests, with the President making the final decision,” the official added.
Kelly’s lawyer, Beau Brindley, previously filed a request for a new trial in June 2025 and asked for his immediate release on bond, citing health concerns and claims of a plot against his life.
The lawyer alleged that Kelly was denied treatment for serious blood clots in his lungs and claimed a prison inmate had been recruited to harm him.
Brindley later said he planned to appeal directly to President Trump for assistance.
Kelly, known for songs including “I Believe I Can Fly” and “Ignition (Remix),” was convicted of federal racketeering and sex trafficking charges in New York in 2021.
In February 2023, he received an additional 20-year sentence for child pornography and enticement offences. That sentence is being served at the same time as a separate 30-year sentence from his New York case.
The three-time Grammy Award winner is currently serving a combined 31-year sentence in a federal prison in North Carolina and is not eligible for parole until January 2046.
