Lawyer accused of rape quits chokehold death case

FILE - In this Sept. 24, 2014, file photo, attorney Sanford A. Rubenstein, 70, appears at a press conference at his offices in New York. Rubenstein will no longer represent the family of Eric Garner, who died in a police chokehold. On Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2014, his law partner announced that Rubenstein does not want a woman’s claim that he raped her to distract from the Garner case. Rubenstein has neither been charged nor arrested. He denies any criminal conduct. (AP Photo/File, Kathy Willens) FILE - In this Sept. 24, 2014, file photo, attorney Sanford A. Rubenstein, 70, appears at a press conference at his offices in New York. Rubenstein will no longer represent the family of Eric Garner, who died in a police chokehold. On Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2014, his law partner announced that Rubenstein does not want a woman’s claim that he raped her to distract from the Garner case. Rubenstein has neither been charged nor arrested. He denies any criminal conduct. (AP Photo/File, Kathy Willens)

By Associated Press October 8, 2014 1 min read

NEW YORK (AP) – A New York attorney accused of raping a woman will no longer represent the family of a man who died after being placed in a police chokehold.

Attorney Sanford Rubenstein’s law partner announced Wednesday that Rubenstein doesn’t want the woman’s claims to distract from the Eric Garner case.

Rubenstein hasn’t been arrested or charged. He denies any criminal conduct.

Law partner Scott Rynecki says Rubenstein’s withdrawal from the chokehold case allows the Garner family to push forward for accountability and its day in court.

Garner’s family has filed a notice of claim to sue the city and the police department for $75 million. An amateur video shows Garner being choked by an officer during an arrest in July.