A federal judge has allowed two of R. Kelly's lawyers to withdraw from his legal team just weeks before the R&B singer is set to go on trial in New York on sex trafficking charges.
U.S. District Judge Ann Donnelly granted a request by Steve Greenberg and Michael Leonard to withdraw from the case due to a falling-out among Kelly's team of lawyers.
Greenberg and Leonard told the judge it would be "impossible" for them to continue representing Kelly after the singer hired two new lawyers, Thomas Farinella and Nicole Becker.
Kelly, real name Robert Sylvester Kelly, is set to go on trial on August 18 for charges relating to racketeering, sexual exploitation of a child, bribery, kidnapping, forced labor and enticement.
Prosecutors allege that Kelly had a team made up of his managers, bodyguards and other employees who helped him recruit women and girls for sex. The group would select victims at concerts and other venues and arranged for them to travel to see Kelly.
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