WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft was granted his request for a high-profile defense team following the billionaire’s two solicitation charges in Palm Beach County.
On Tuesday, Judge Leonard Hanser granted Kraft’s request to have two additional attorneys represent him.
The attorneys must file amended motions before it becomes official, but a judge agreed to grant that request without another hearing if the right paperwork is filed.
Kraft’s legal team now includes New York City-based Alex Spiro, a Harvard law school graduate, who is known as the go to attorney for New York basketball players.
Kraft also hired William Burck, an attorney out of Washington D.C., who was once former President George W. Bush’s lawyer.
Rounding out his legal defense is West Palm Beach attorney Jack Goldberger, who will serve as the attorney of record in the case, since he is the only one licensed to practice in Florida.
Kraft's attorneys are demanding a speedy trial, and, as a result, a tentative trial date has been set for May 27, according to the judge.
Kraft’s legal team also plans to file more paperwork further supporting their request to suppress video recordings of Kraft in a private massage room at Orchids of Asia Day Spa.
RELATED: Robert Kraft’s attorneys fight to make sure video of alleged spa visits never go public
In a similar motion filed last week, Kraft's attorneys called that video evidence "fruits of an unlawful sneak-and-peek search warrant that the town of Jupiter Police Department used to spy on Mr. Kraft."
Kraft's lawyers said the recordings violated Florida law and the Fourth Amendment, which prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures. The motion claimed police did not have proper evidence to get a warrant.
However, Contact 5 found sneak-and-peek warrant have been used in Florida before. Video evidence obtained in at least one South Florida case resulted in successful prostitution-related prosecutions.
Jupiter police said Kraft, who is pleading not guilty to the charges against him, visited Orchids of Asia Day Spa on Jan. 19 and 20. Both times, video surveillance captured a woman performing a sex act on Kraft and showed him paying in cash, according to police.
Kraft is facing charges of soliciting another to commit prostitution, a first-degree misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail, a $5,000 penalty, and a mandatory 100 hours of community service.
In February, Martin County Sheriff William Snyder announced the results of an eight-month investigation, which uncovered sex trafficking operations at five day spas from Jupiter to Hobe Sound.
According to the sheriff, the spas involved were:
- Orchids of Asia Day Spa in Jupiter
- Cove Day Spa in Stuart
- Therapy Spa in Stuart
- Bridge Day Spa in Hobe Sound
- Sequoia Apple Day Spa in Hobe Sound
Kraft released a statement earlier this month, which read in part:
"I am truly sorry. I know I have hurt and disappointed my family, my close friends, my co-workers, our fans and many others who rightfully hold me to a higher standard. Throughout my life, I have always tried to do the right thing. The last thing I would ever want to do is disrespect another human being. I have extraordinary respect for women; my morals and my soul were shaped by the most wonderful woman, the love of my life, who I was blessed to have as my partner for 50 years."
According to two sources, NFL owners will postpone any decision on whether to punish Kraft until his case is resolved
