CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- R Kelly's legal team is asking Cook County prosecutors to preserve emails and other communications with Michael Avenatti, the attorney representing several of Kelly's accusers.
Defense attorney Steve Greenberg wants to know what types of conversations the Cook County State's Attorney's office has had with Avenatii.
After court, Greenberg said he's already seen that Kim Foxx talks to people about pending investigations, in a reference to the Jussie Smollett case in which Foxx recused herself after talking with one of his relatives.
"I don't think the Jussie Smollett situation is going to impact R. Kelly's trial. I think what it shows is how this office operates," Greenberg said.
"This office is full of great prosecutors, 99 percent of them, I think what we are talking about is the upper regions," Greenberg said.
Avenatti responded in a tweet, acusing Greenberg of trying to distract from what Avenatti calls the clear guilt of Greenberg's client by raising bogus arguments.
The State's Attorney's office has asked the judge to deny the request, saying it's moot because they already must preserve the communications under state FOIA laws.
In a filing responding to the request, prosecutors say the accusations "are lacking in factual support" and "bear no discernable relation to defendant's request".
R. Kelly was not in court Monday. He is expected to appear before a judge on sexual abuse charges in May.