Patriots Owner Caught in Sex Sting?; R. Kelly Charged With Sexual Abuse of Minors
BLITZER: We're following breaking news. Two prominent men facing sex-related charges in separate cases tonight, including the musician R. Kelly. He's been indicted on 10 counts of felony sex abuse of four women, including three minors. Our national correspondent, Sara Sidner, is working the story for us in Chicago. Sara, the alleged crimes, what, they span more than a decade. What's the latest?</s>SARA SIDNER, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. This is huge. Really, it is, because, for decades, there have been accusations against R. Kelly, inappropriate behavior with minors, sexual behavior with minors. Those accusations have gone on for many, many, many years. Now we are hearing from the state's attorney saying that has been indicted and charged with 10 counts of aggravated sexual abuse against -- three of whom are minors. There are four women that are listed there. Only their initials are listed. But they have dates and times. And some of the dates span several years that they have put into the charges and into the indictment. This is significant. We have known and have reported that there was a grand jury that convened last week. And we know that grand jury continued into this week. We know that there were witnesses, according to sources, telling us that people have been coming in and out of the grand jury. We also know about a videotape, a newly unearthed video tape that was brought to the state's attorney's office last week. And, as we understand it, from attorney Michael Avenatti, who brought it to the state's attorney's office, who is representing several clients that are involved in the R. Kelly case, that that tape has some very potentially damaging evidence on it, including a girl who refers -- and I will warn you about this language I'm about to use -- who refers to her 14-year-old genitalia. She does so more than a half-dozen times. And R. Kelly or someone who appears to be R. Kelly on the tape says the same thing, repeats it back to her a couple of times. That evidence has been in the hands of the state's attorney's office. As we understand, it was also used to show some of the people in the grand jury -- Wolf.</s>BLITZER: You had a chance to speak to one of the survivors, Sara. What was her reaction.</s>SIDNER: This is stunning as well, because this is in response in some ways to a series that was six hours' long called "Surviving R. Kelly" that ran and aired on -- in January. And many women came out, telling their stories. One of those women was Kitti Jones. And I spoke to her. She was -- what is the word? She was emotional, to say the very least. She said to us: "Today is very emotional for myself and some of the other women I have spoken to who are survivors from the documentary." Now, Kitti Jones was dating R. Kelly for quite a few years and says she suffered abuse. And here's something that's really interesting that we did not know. She says: "I knew when I saw the images from one of the new tapes in a private meeting on this Tuesday that this was going to be huge for prosecutors." Those are words from a woman who says she has been waiting for a very long time for there to be some justice. And she says that she has seen this newly unearthed videotape, and that it is, in her words, huge for prosecutors. Now, to be fair, R. Kelly for many years has always maintained his innocence, saying that he is not guilty of any of these alleged crimes -- Wolf.</s>BLITZER: Sara Sidner in Chicago for us, thank you. We're also following charges against the New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, who was caught up in a prostitution staying at a Florida day spa. Let's go to our national correspondent, Jason Carroll, who is working the story for us. Jason, police apparently have, what, video evidence against Kraft. What is he being charged with?</s>JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, he's being charged with allegations relating to soliciting a prostitute. He has denied these allegations through a spokesperson, but police say they have all the evidence that they need. And they say it's on tape.</s>CARROLL (voice-over): Police in Jupiter, Florida, shocked that New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft is allegedly caught in their sting operation at the Orchids of Asia Day Spa.</s>DANIEL KERR, JUPITER POLICE CHIEF: We're as equally stunned as everybody else.</s>CARROLL: Kraft charged with two counts of soliciting another for prostitution, which are misdemeanors.</s>KERR: Much of our evidence comes directly from the businesses, also from body-worn cameras of our officers, and also surveillance that we had been conducting.</s>CARROLL: Police say Kraft visited the spa on two occasions, and they say they have videos allegedly showing him in a room receiving what detectives characterized as paid acts. Their investigation into human trafficking at the spa lasted several months. More than two dozen men, or johns, including Kraft, are being charged for receiving illegal services.</s>KERR: He's being charged with the same offenses as the others. And that is soliciting another to commit prostitution.</s>CARROLL: Kraft, whose team won the Super Bowl three weeks ago, is the chairman and CEO of The Kraft Group. His worth is listed by "Forbes" at more than $6 billion. And he is a friend of the president and a frequent visitor to Trump's club Mar-a-Lago. A spokesman for the 77-year-old billionaire released a statement which says: "We categorically deny that Mr. Kraft engaged in any illegal activity. Because it is a judicial matter, we will not be commenting further." The Kraft family has been active in philanthropic efforts over the years. But police now say they will be issuing a warrant for his arrest.</s>CARROLL: And, Wolf, another development in all this, late today, another billionaire allegedly caught up in all of the sting operation. Police say they will charge hedge fund buyout king John W. Childs. They have not charged him yet. They said they are going to. Childs strongly denies the allegations. He says that all of the accusations are, quote, totally false. Wolf?</s>BLITZER: Jason Carroll reporting for us, thank you. Tonight, the President is downplaying a Florida Judge's decision involving the Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta. The judge ruled that the Justice Department broke the law in its handling of a lenient 2008 plea deal involving billionaire Jeffrey Epstein, who was accused of serial sex abuse of underage girls. Secretary Acosta was one of the federal prosecutors who handled the case. He was the U.S. attorney in Miami. Asked about the ruling, the President said he really doesn't know much about the case and added, and I'm quoting the President now, that seems like a long time ago. We'll talk about all the breaking news with our correspondents and our analysts. They are standing by. We have a lot to discuss. Don't leave.