In addition, a racketeering case combines multiple victims' stories into one trial, which can create a #MeToo-like dynamic. Moira Penza, a former federal prosecutor who led the racketeering case against the cult-like group Nxivm , said the racketeering charge makes this trial very different from Kelly's previous one. Six of the racketeering acts and eight of the standalone charges against Kelly are based on violations of the Mann Act. Outside the racketeering accusations, Kelly also faces eight freestanding charges of Mann Act violations. Charging a defendant with these crimes on their own is essentially a backup plan in case the jury has a problem with the racketeering case.

Source: CNN August 18, 2021 13:18 UTC