National Action Network official allegedly raped by civil rights attorney

New York Daily News is reporting that 70 yr-old defense and civil rights attorney Sanford Rubenstein has been accused of sexually assaulting a woman who is a 42-year-old business executive at Al Sharpton’s National Action Network. The New York Police Department is reportedly investigating the case as a third-degree rape, which experts say indicates the unidentified victim was unable to give consent and could possible involve alcohol and/or date rape drugs.

The attack is alleged to have occurred at Rubenstein’s apartment after he attended a birthday party of Rev. Al Sharpton last Wednesday.

The National Action Network issued a statement saying, “National Action Network and Rev. Al Sharpton has not been notified or advised by any official investigating authorities,” the statement read. “The allegations as reported occurred at a private residence after a NAN event and had nothing to do with NAN nor Rev. Al Sharpton, therefore we have no comment at this time.”

Rubenstein has worked on high profile police brutality cases including the killing of Eric Garner who was put in a chokehold by an NYPD plainclothes officer.