The Latest: State says R. Kelly lawyer claims lack ‘support’

CHICAGO (AP) - The Latest on R. Kelly lawyer questioning role of Michael Avenatti in bring charges against Kelly (all times local):

5:40 p.m.

Chicago prosecutors have briefly responded to a defense filing in which R. Kelly’s lawyer says the Cook County state’s attorney’s office succumbed to pressure from attorney Michael Avenatti in bringing sex-abuse charges against Kelly.

The singer’s attorney, Steve Greenberg, filed a motion on Monday highlighting recent criminal charges against Avenatti in New York alleging he tried to shake down of Nike. He said Avenatti’s legal issues cast doubt on his role in encouraging charges against Kelly.

A two-page filing by prosecutors only touches on a series of claims by Greenberg. It says Greenberg’s “accusations and speculation” were “lacking in factual support.”

Prosecutors’ filing also says Greenberg’s request for a judge to order that they preserve all communications with Avenatti was moot because they already preserve such communications under transparency laws.

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12:05 p.m.

R&B singer R. Kelly’s attorney has withdrawn his request that a judge allow him to travel to perform at concerts.

Attorney Steve Greenberg on Monday withdrew his request for Kelly to travel, days after he asked the judge to hold off on his request for Kelly to be allowed to fly to Dubai for several concerts there.

After Monday’s hearing, Greenberg said there was a possibility that Kelly could return to court with another request to travel but that he would leave that to Kelly’s entertainment lawyer.

Last month, Dubai’s government denied a claim by Kelly that he had planned concerts in the sheikdom and on Monday, Greenberg said that any plans the singer had to travel to that country to perform in the next few weeks are “probably doomed.”

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10:45 a.m.

R. Kelly’s attorney says the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office succumbed to pressure from attorney Michael Avenatti in bringing sex-abuse charges against the singer, saying that has tainted the entire case.

Steve Greenberg filed a motion Monday highlighting recent charges against Avenatti in New York alleging a shakedown of Nike, saying Avenatti’s legal issues cast doubt on his central role in encouraging charges against Kelly.

After a brief hearing Monday, Greenberg told reporters that Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx rushed “to prosecute because of pressure - all polluted - by Michael Avenatti.” He said prosecutors “got in bed with Avenatti and Avenatti is toxic.”

Avenatti tweeted Monday that Greenberg was “trying to distract attention away from the clear guilt of his client by raising bogus arguments about me and Kim Foxx.”

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9:15 a.m.

A lawyer for R&B singer R. Kelly says charges in New York accusing attorney Michael Avenatti of trying to shake down Nike raise questions about his role in helping Chicago prosecutors bring sex-abuse charges against Kelly.

Steve Greenberg says he intends to pursue the issue. A previously scheduled hearing in Kelly’s case is scheduled for Monday.

Kelly was charged in February. Investigators allege he sexually abused three girls and a woman in cases dating back decades.

Avenetti represents two Kelly accusers. Just days before charges were filed, he gave prosecutors a videotape allegedly showing Kelly abusing one girl.

A complaint in the Nike case says Avenatti mentioned Kelly when speaking to Nike executives, telling them he knew how to generate public outrage even if most allegations against someone weren’t true. Avenatti has denied any wrongdoing.