New York gynecologist accused of abusing dozens of patients over 20 years wants sexual assault trial moved OUT of Manhattan because he's had 'too much bad publicity'
A former Columbia University doctor who allegedly preyed on patients for over two decades has requested his federal trial be moved out of Manhattan because he's had too much bad publicity from candidates in the Manhattan District Attorney race.
Robert Hadden, 62, faces seven federal charges after being accused of sexually abusing patients between 1993 and 2012.
He was charged with six counts of inducing others to travel to engage in illegal sex acts and released on $1million bail with no home confinement last September by Manhattan Federal Court Judge Robert Lehrburger.
A seventh count was added on July 19 after child pornography was allegedly found on an Apple iBook laptop seized by the government at Hadden's late father's home, CBS reported.
Prosecutors have until September 3 to tell Hadden's defense team whether they plan to use material obtained from electronic devices at trial.
In 2016, Manhattan DA Cyrus Vance granted a jail-free deal to Hadden, after he pleaded guilty to two state charges of criminal sex acts in the third degree and forcible touching.
Former Columbia University doctor, Robert Hadden (pictured after being released on bail last September) wants his trial to be moved out of Manhattan because 'he's had too much bad publicity' from DA candidates
The disgraced gynecologist was released on $1million bail last September after he was indicted on sex abuse charges
Hadden's lawyer, Deirdre Von Dornum, filed a motion on behalf of his client to have his charges dismissed or moved to a different jurisdiction
Evelyn Yang, Andrew Yang's wife, has come forward as one of Hadden's victims
Hadden's lawyer, Deirdre Von Dornum, asked for the charges against Hadden to be either dismissed because some of them are the same he pleaded guilty to in 2016, or moved to a different jurisdiction, the Daily News reported.
She pointed to the bad publicity her client received from candidates in the upcoming election for Manhattan DA, who were critical of Vance's handling of the case.
'The candidates linked Mr. Hadden with Harvey Weinstein and Jeffrey Epstein as prime examples of the outgoing DA's mishandling of sex crimes,' Von Dornum wrote in the motion.
She also complained about Alvin Bragg, who is expected to become the next Manhattan DA, who sent flyers to Manhattan voters denouncing the leniency showed to Hadden.
Hadden was initially charged with six counts of inducing others to travel to engage in illegal sex acts. A seventh count was added after child pornography was alleged found on his laptop
Marissa Hoechstetter (pictured with NYC Council Speaker Corey Johnson) called for Manhattan DA Cyrus Vance to resign for 'failing to protect victims of sexual assault' after Hadden reached a plea deal for sexual assault charges in 2016
Hadden allegedly took advantage of his victims 'under the guise of conducting purported gynecological and obstetric examinations' at his medical offices and Manhattan hospitals.
Evelyn Yang, the wife of failed presidential and New York mayoral candidate Andrew Yang, is among those who have come forward as one of Hadden's accusers. Another is a minor the doctor delivered.
Last year, Jessica Sell Chambers, an alleged victim, urged Judge Lehrburger to remand Hadden into custody pending his trial, but her requests and those of prosecutors were ignored.
'He has injured many, many, many women and he needs to be held accountable for that,' Chambers said.
'I think the court needs to ensure he has no chance to flee or hurt himself or anything like that.'
Marissa Hoechstetter, another accuser, has said Vance's office misled her about the statute of limitations in Hadden's 2016 case and was already negotiating the plea deal when she was still talking to prosecutors about testifying at a potential trial.
She called for Vance to resign for 'failing to protect victims of sexual assault.'
Hoechstetter said the way Hadden's case has been handled 'only puts into high relief the betrayal I and his other victims experienced by the Manhattan DA.'
Hadden allegedly made sexually inappropriate remarks and surreptitiously performed oral sex on patients.
The indictment from last year claims that he encouraged his patients to see him often and would try to make them feel at ease by showing them photographs of his family.
Federal prosecutors have yet to respond to the motion filed by Hadden's lawyer.
Hadden obtained a jail-free deal in 2016 (Pictured appearing in Manhattan Supreme court in 2016)
Hadden used to work at Columbia University before losing his license