Harvey Weinstein can't get a fair trial, defense lawyer says

NEW YORK (FOX5NY.COM) - When Harvey Weinstein turned himself into authorities on Friday, his case went from the court of public opinion to the criminal court in Lower Manhattan. His lawyer, famed criminal defense attorney Benjamin Brafman, is arguing in that court that Weinstein can't get a fair shake with the grand jury thanks to the New York tabloids.

In a private meeting on Tuesday with the judge and city prosecutors, Brafman also complained about the pressure put on Manhattan D.A. Cy Vance to prosecute Weinstein.

Last month, Gov. Andrew Cuomo and then-Attorney General Eric Schneiderman opened an investigation into why Vance's office didn't press charges against Weinstein after a model working with the NYPD caught him on tape in 2015 admitting to sexually assaulting her.

Many more women around the country have stepped forward with similar stories. The DA on Friday charged Weinstein with two counts of rape and one count of a criminal sexual act based on the allegations of the women, one of whom Brafman is already seeking to undermine. Brafman said the woman who has accused Weinstein rape had a 10-year consensual sexual relationship with him after the alleged rape happened.

Inside the courtroom, I saw Brafman walk behind closed doors with a copy of the New York Post that had a cover that he says will prejudice his client before the grand jury. But if the case does go to trial, Brafman said he will ably defend his client in court.