R. Kelly's lawyer files motion for release, claims singer can see only one girlfriend

R. Kelly, who has been held in a Chicago jail since July on federal sex crime charges, is seeking release on bond partially because he can only visit with one of his girlfriends, CNN reported.

Steven Greenberg, Kelly's attorney, filed the motion Monday in U.S. District Court in New York.

In the legal filing, Greenberg argued, according to CNN, "His (Kelly's) visits are severely restricted; presently, he is only allowed one unrelated person to visit. In other words, although he lives and has lived with two lady friends, only one of them is allowed to be on his visiting list, and after 90 days he is required to switch. No other friends or professional colleagues are allowed to visit. That is not right."

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Greenberg also stated in the motion that his client should be freed because he is not a flight risk and isn't a danger to the community, the Chicago Tribune reported. Greenberg also said the case against his client is weak, the newspaper reported.

Greenberg pointed out in the motion that Kelly had surrendered his passport and has "almost no financial resources," the Chicago Tribune reported.

A judge will hear the motion Wednesday, CNN reported.

Kelly pleaded not guilty to charges including forced labor, racketeering, kidnapping and sexual exploitation of a child earlier this year.

He is awaiting trial in three jurisdictions all connected to allegations of sexual abuse of underage girls, the Chicago Tribune reported.

In addition to asking for Kelly's release, the motion filed Monday revealed federal authorities searched the singer's home in Chicago's Trump Tower and seized his cellphone and computers after his arrest stemming from federal indictments in Chicago and New York, according to the Tribune.

Prosecutors said Kelly had told others to send letters to witnesses that threatened them to be "subjected to physical harm" if they worked against him, the newspaper reported.

Despite the seizure of the devices, Greenberg says there is no evidence of the alleged threats.

If the judge in New York grants the motion, Kelly still has a no-bond order against him on the federal indictments filed in Chicago. Greenberg has alerted the judge in that case that he will ask that Kelly be released to home confinement once his girlfriends find another place to live, the Tribune reported.

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