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Those dang New England Patriots just can’t seem to keep themselves off the court dockets these days, can they? First, it was the team’s owner Robert Kraft facing prostitution charges. Then it was Antonio Brown facing… so many things. And now, with Brown jettisoned from the team, it’s apparently Kraft’s turn again.
As you will recall, back in February, Kraft’s name appeared on a list of people facing charges in connection to the human trafficking and illegal sex acts that allegedly took place at the Orchids of Asia Day Spa in Jupiter, Florida.
A spokesperson for the 78-year-old Kraft stated at the time, “We categorically deny that Mr. Kraft engaged in any illegal activity.”
The NFL, for what it’s worth (which isn’t much as we have already seen today) said back in February that they would “take appropriate action as warranted based on the facts.”
Kraft has since pleaded not guilty to charges of prostitution and apologized for… something.
ESPN and other publications have actively been attempting to force the court to release video of Kraft inside the spa, while prosecutors in the case want it to be shown in court.
Kraft’s attorneys have challenged the Florida constitution to stop the video’s release, saying it’s “basically pornography.”
As for the latter, in May a judge ruled that the video could not be used by the prosection in court.
This week, however, prosecutors were back in court appealing that judge’s ruling to throw out video evidence that allegedly shows Kraft paying for sex at the Orchids of Asia Day Spa.
According to the Tampa Bay Times…
The state attorney general’s office filed the appeal late Tuesday, just before a deadline that would have seen the misdemeanor charge likely dropped. Prosecutors told the Florida appeals court that a county judge made several errors in throwing out the video recording.
They said the warrant allowing hidden cameras at the Orchids of Asia day spa was legal, and even if it wasn’t, the judge went too far in suppressing the video.
The video allegedly shows Kraft paying for sex on two separate occasions inside the spa.
The brief filed by the State of Florida can be viewed in full here.