R. Kelly’s request for bail was denied, Billboard reported. On Thursday (July 8), the singer made his first appearance in the Brooklyn Federal Court since being transferred to the city’s Metropolitan Detention Center from Chicago. During the court hearing, his lawyers said that they were unable to meet with their client as he quarantined for two weeks in the days following his transfer. They requested his release on bail so he could be near and help them in preparing his defense, but the application was rejected by U.S. District Judge Ann Donnelly, who informed them that they are now “going to have full access to Mr. Kelly” whenever they wanted.

As REVOLT previously reported, Kelly was forced to get a new lawyer after two of his previous ones — Steven Greenberg and Mike Leonard — were removed from the legal team following issues with other legal counsels. As a result of the change, Kelly’s new attorney, Deveraux Cannick, asked for the trial to be postponed so that he can be fully briefed on all the details of his client’s sex-trafficking case and better prepare for the trial.

Amid Thursday’s hearing, Donnelly granted a temporarily delay, pushing the start of the trial from Aug. 9 to Aug. 18. Jury selection, however, will begin on Aug. 9 as originally planned.

Kelly is accused of leading his employees to recruit women and underage girls for sex. Federal prosecutors say they chose women from his concerts and arranged for them to see Kelly at his home. The 54-year-old — who remained mum during the hearing — is now facing charges of child sexual exploitation, child pornography production, kidnapping, forced labor, racketeering and obstruction of justice in connection to the allegations. He is also facing separate charges in Chicago and Minnesota and has continued to maintain his innocence.