Police in New York searched the home of Sanford Rubenstein, a long-time confidant of civil rights activist Al Sharpton, after a woman — who’s another long-time assistant to the reverend — came forward and accused Mr. Rubenstein of raping her.
Mr. Rubenstein has not been charged, the New York Post said.
Detectives first had the woman telephone Mr. Rubenstein to see if he would implicate himself in the crime, the New York Post reported.
That didn’t work so police then scoured through his penthouse residence for about an 1½ hours, searching for evidence, the New York Post reported. Mr. Rubenstein, along with his high-profile attorneys, were at his home during the search, the paper reported.
The woman said she was raped at Mr. Rubenstein’s home, after Mr. Sharpton’s 60th birthday party at the Four Seasons restaurant. She said she passed out at the home and woke several times to find him “violating” her, but was too groggy and helpless to do anything, she said, the New York Post reported.
Mr. Sharpton issued a brief comment on the situation on Sunday, saying of his friend, Mr. Rubenstein: “I don’t care how close we are. If he’s wrong, he’s wrong. If he’s right, we’ll see.”
A police source said the accuser is a 42-year-old retail company executive and aide to Mr. Sharpton at his National Action Network, the New York Post reported. Mr. Rubenstein, meanwhile, is Mr. Sharpton’s personal lawyer, frequently appearing side by side the reverend during civil rights rallies, the paper reported.
Mr. Rubenstein also “denies any criminal conduct whatsoever,” his attorney said, the New York Post reported.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.