Chicago Sun-Times music writer Jim DeRogatis is in hot water with the judge presiding over the R. Kelly child pron trial.
The writer, who defense attorneys say is responsible for the widespread distribution of the videotape at the center of the case, was a no-show at a Cook County court yesterday morning to testify in the R. Kelly trial.
Despite a court order demanding his presence in the courtroom, the writer, affectionately known as “DeRos”, did not say ‘present’ when the judge called roll on Tuesday. The Chicago Tribune reports that DeRos never received the summons to appear in court. The paper did not explain how everyone else on the planet knew DeRos was subpoenaed to appear in court.
The judge threatened to arrest DeRos and haul him into court if he doesn’t appear today. This should be interesting since Kelly’s case hinges on DeRos’ testimony about what happened to the controversial tape after it came into his possession in 2002.
The defense contends DeRos intentionally leaked the tape to the Internets after writing damaging articles about Kelly before the tape surfaced.
The tape contained scenes of a man the prosecution claims is R. Kelly engaging in sexual acts with an underage girl. The girl, now 23, claims it isn’t her on the tape.
The judge also ruled that DeRogatis is not protected under the First Amendment as a reporter because he is a material witness to a crime. Does that make anyone who viewed the tape a material witness to a crime?
(Note to Feds: my interest in viewing the tape was purely educational.) (Source)
