Florida prosecutors will release videos that allegedly depict New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft engaging in sexual acts at a massage parlor, according to a new court filing from the Palm Beach County State’s Attorney’s Office.
Kraft, who was charged on two counts of soliciting another to commit prostitution in February, has argued against their release. His lawyers say the video could “destroy any prospect” of Kraft receiving a fair trial, and would violate his right to privacy.
[Opinion: Public does not need to see Robert Kraft spa sex video]
But prosecutors say the videos must be released publicly, citing Florida’s open-record laws. They argue they cannot hold off on a judge’s ruling determining the release of the videos while the alleged manager of the Orchids of Asia Day Spa, Lei Wang, is prosecuted.
“[Prosecutors] cannot delay the release of records to allow a person to raise a constitutional challenge to the release of the documents. The Public Records Act does not allow a custodian to delay the production of records to allow the resolution of a constitutional challenge to the release of the documents,” prosecutors wrote in court papers, according to the Boston Globe.
In response, Kraft’s legal team filed an emergency motion to “oppose the State’s intended disclosure” of the videos. Wang has also filed a motion to prevent their release.
Kraft has denied any wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty to the two charges against him.
