The lawyer defending disgraced super-producer Harvey Weinstein against rape charges is concerned that publicity surrounding the case and “inappropriate pressure” on prosecutors could be unfair to his client.

“One of my concerns is that by virtue of some of the publicity that has occurred over the weekend, that the ability for people to keep an open mind is of concern to me,” Brafman told reporters outside the courthouse. “I also think that the pressure that is being brought to bear on the (Manhattan) District Attorney’s office demanding that an indictment or prosecution of Mr. Weinstein proceed is inappropriate pressure,” he added.

Attorney Benjamin Brafman spoke to reporters following a closed-door proceeding Tuesday before a New York Supreme Court Justice in Manhattan.  Brafman said he had requested the hearing to raise his concerns about the case.  

“I’m not certain whether there is any remedy but I wanted to make it clear that I was not happy with those issues,” he said.

Brafman said he could not discuss the substance of the proceeding in detail and did not say exactly what action if any, he had asked the judge to take. 

He did reveal that Weinstein had a 10-year consensual affair with the woman he is accused of raping – both before and after the alleged rape.

Weinstein did not appear at the proceeding.

Weinstein, who has been accused of sexual misconduct by more than 70 women, in some instances dating back decades, has denied having nonconsensual sex with anyone. 

Weinstein has been charged with two counts of rape and one count of criminal sexual act following a months-long investigation by the New York Police Department. Authorities did not identify the two women but said the crimes took place in 2004 and 2013. If convicted on the most serious charges, Weinstein could face between five and 25 years in prison. 

Brafman said he expected Weinstein would be exonerated of the charges, which he called “absurd.”

(with inputs from news agencies)

(Cover photo: Benjamin Brafman, lawyer for film producer Harvey Weinstein, exits the Manhattan Criminal Court following a meeting in New York, US, May 29, 2018. / Reuters)