A Florida judge on Wednesday ordered a temporary hold on releasing video evidence in New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft’s prostitution case.
Judge Joseph Marx granted an emergency motion filed by Kraft’s lawyers hours after prosecutors announced their intention to release the footage, according to Boston ABC affiliate WCVB. The hold will remain in place pending an April 29 hearing.
{mosads}Prosecutors have claimed the footage features Kraft receiving sexual favors in Jupiter-based Orchids of Asia Day Spa. Kraft has pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanor charges. Palm Beach County State’s Attorney Dave Aronberg wrote Wednesday that the video must be made public by law, according to WCVB.
“The State, as the custodian of the records, cannot delay the release of records to allow a person to raise a constitutional challenge to the release of the documents,” Aronberg’s office wrote.
Several media outlets, including The New York Times and The Associated Press, had filed motions arguing the evidence should be released.
Kraft’s lawyers, meanwhile, argued that releasing the video could prejudice the public against Kraft.
“Because the public release of the Videos would infringe upon Mr. Kraft’s constitutionally protected privacy rights and would interfere with Mr. Kraft’s ability to obtain a fair trial, the Court has additional grounds for entering a protective order and preventing the disclosure of the Videos,” they wrote, noting that “less inflammatory and less prejudicial materials” are already available to the public, according to WCVB.
Kraft was charged in February following what Jupiter police said was a human trafficking sweep.