Justice at last: R. Kelly finally found guilty

THE BIG STORY

Kelly has finally been found guilty of federal crimes after decades of sexual abuse allegations

Federal prosecutor Elizabeth Geddes points to R. Kelly during closing arguments in the trial in a courtroom sketch, Sept. 22, 2021. (Jane Rosenberg/Reuters)

For over a month, R. Kelly has been on trial in Brooklyn federal court on one count of racketeering and eight counts of violating the Mann Act, a federal law addressing sex trafficking. Prosecutors accused the singer of exploiting his star power for over 25 years to prey on dozens of underage girls, young women, and at least two male victims.

Years after evidence of his abuse first came to light, on Monday Kelly was convicted on all counts at last.

At the trial, the government laid out an expansive, detailed case to prove Kelly's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, bringing hundreds of pieces of evidence and 45 witnesses, 11 of whom were his victims. He was directly charged for crimes related to just six women — including Aaliyah, the late R&B singer Kelly married when she was 15 — but the government used evidence that he'd abused others to argue that the scope of Kelly's actions amounted to racketeering.

Though Kelly has been indicted multiple times since the late 1990s, he has never faced criminal consequences in connection with sexual abuse. In addition to this New York trial, he's also awaiting trial on federal and state charges in Illinois and faces charges in Minnesota.

Jurors deliberated for just nine hours to reach their verdict, finding Kelly guilty on all counts. He now faces decades in prison and is scheduled to be sentenced on May 4, 2022.

STAYING ON TOP OF THIS

Instagram is "pausing" making an app for kids

Instagram announced on Monday morning that it's "pausing" work on its planned app meant just for children. Instagram head Adam Mosseri wrote on the company blog that the app isn't stopping Instagram for Kids, just pausing it. "We believe building 'Instagram Kids' is the right thing to do," he wrote.

This comes after an explosive report by the Wall Street Journal over a week ago on how Facebook had internal research showing that Instagram was harmful to the mental health of teenage girls, but downplayed that research externally and in its decisions about the app. On its blog, Facebook disputed that its internal research actually showed Instagram was bad for teens.

SNAPSHOTS

Trump supporters are calling for more audits after Arizona proved Biden won the election (again). Trump allies spent months building up hope that Arizona would validate their lies about the election, raising money along the way. Absent that proof, they're spinning reality.

Britney Spears' phone and private conversations were allegedly under strict surveillance and monitoring, according to a former security team member. "When I took a step back and I looked at everything, it really reminded me of somebody that was in prison."

Katherine Heigl reflected on her past comments about the "cruel" working conditions on Grey's Anatomy years after being called "difficult" and cast out from Hollywood. "There is nothing glamorous or sexy about working past the point of exhaustion."

UNLAWFUL HAZING

Eleven men have been charged with hazing in the death of a 19-year-old fraternity pledge

Eleven men were charged with unlawful hazing in the death of Adam Oakes, a student at Virginia Commonwealth University who died in February during a pledge party for the Delta Chi Fraternity.

As of Friday, eight of them had been arrested, according to jail records and WWBT. The three other men were expected to turn themselves in to police; the Richmond Police Department did not respond to a request for comment Sunday.

Police found Oakes unresponsive on the couch of an off-campus house after a party Feb. 26 that celebrated matching pledges with fraternity members. Since his death, his family has been pushing for harsher punishments for hazing incidents, and a website run by Oakes's family has blamed not only the students involved but also the fraternity itself for Oakes's death.

"Due to the events of one night, one group of boys, and one fraternity tradition, Adam's life was cut short," reads a statement on the Love Like Adam website.

A MOMENT OF SILENCE FOR SHEET CAKES

A reminder of what cakes looked like before baking shows ruined our expectations forever

After years of watching contestants on The Great British Bake Off whip up zillion-layer desserts held together by sheer optimism, sheet cakes aren't hitting the way they used to. Tag yourself, I'm the limp candle hanging on for dear life on Ronald Reagan's 82nd birthday cake.

Michael Jordan "dunks" a cake basketball as he celebrates his 33rd birthday on Feb. 12, 1996, at Michael Jordan's Restaurant in Chicago. (John Zich/AP)

Avril Lavigne blows out her birthday cake candles during her 18th birthday party. (L. Busacca/WireImage)

Former president Ronald Reagan blows out the candles on his 82nd birthday cake at his Los Angeles office, Feb. 5, 1993. (Nick Ut/ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher looks at her birthday cake in Washington, Oct. 23, 1995. (J. Scott Applewhite/ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Nelson Mandela blows candles on a cake for his 72nd birthday, the first he has celebrated as a free man since 1960, on July 18, 1990. (Walter Dhladhla/Getty Images)

Don't forget to embrace the start of a new season,

Alexa

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