Attorney for Robert Kraft calls video in his prostitution case 'basically pornography'
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — An attorney for New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft called the video evidence allegedly showing Kraft receiving sexual acts at a Jupiter spa “basically pornography.”
The surveillance video was at the center of a hearing Friday between Kraft’s attorneys and attorneys for several media outlets from Florida to Boston.
Kraft’s lawyer William Burck said he and the other defense counsel have seen the videos.
Burck argued the media and public interest in the videos would only satisfy a “prurient interest.”
“If the affidavit says what happened then what is the interest the public has in seeing it? It's basically pornography,” he said. “I don't think there's any particular interest that the state has or the media has in publishing it. The actual acts have been allegedly described in the affidavit."
Burck said releasing the videos would be an invasion of Kraft’s privacy and a violation of his constitutional rights that will prevent him from receiving a fair trial.
“The only possible reason to release it is to get eyeballs and clicks on a video pertaining people who are in various states of disrobing and engaging potentially in sexual conduct," Burck said. "That’s nowhere recognized as a valid interest of the public."
Lawyers for the media argue the video is about more than just clicks.
“This is not a case about whether the public gets to see prurient material," an attorney for the media argued. "It's a case about legitimate public concern about practices that go on day in and day out in our communities."
Assistant Palm Beach County State Attorney Greg Kridos also revealed in court that while when their investigation began they believed there was human trafficking happening, they have found no evidence.
“We’ve vetted this case," he said. "We’ve done our due diligence, there is no human trafficking that arise out of this investigation."
Judge Leonard Hanser asked both parties to submit final arguments by next Tuesday.
Kraft’s attorneys are also scheduled to be back in court at the end of the month to argue another matter pertaining to the video.
