# R Kelly formally asks Trump to reduce 31-year prison sentence

Convicted sex offender R Kelly has formally requested that President Donald Trump commute his 31-year prison sentence. The appeal, filed while Trump is still in office, is considered unlikely to succeed given the severity of Kelly's crimes. The move draws attention to the controversial use of presidential clemency and Kelly's ongoing legal efforts.

**Importance:** 3/5

## Sources

### World
- [The Guardian World](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/16/r-kelly-donald-trump-appeal-commute-prison-sentence-ntwnfb) — Thu, 16 Jul 2026 02:20:41 GMT
- [The Guardian World](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/21/trump-us-flights-lebanon) — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 20:36:55 GMT