Sanford Rubenstein under investigation after being accused of rape

Lawyer Sanford Rubenstein, known for his high-profile cases and affinity for news conferences, is denying the allegations of rape leveraged against him by a top official at The Reverend Al Sharpton’s National Action Network, his lawyer Benjamin Brafman said in a statement Monday.

Meanwhile, the family of Eric Garner, who hired Rubenstein to represent them, met with Sharpton Monday to discuss their next course of action. Garner died in July from an alleged police chokehold in Staten Island after he was accused of selling loose, untaxed cigarettes.

The woman, who is not being identified, was allegedly raped inside Rubenstein’s East 64th Street apartment following Sharpton’s 60th Birthday party at the Four Seasons on Wednesday night, a law enforcement official and several authorities said.

Sharpton’s birthday “Party For a Cause,” was attended by celebrities and high-powered officials, including Aretha Franklin, Spike Lee, and Mayor Bill de Blasio.

Rubenstein, 70, has made his mark over the years representing high-profile cases against the NYPD and his affinity for news conferences. Some of his high-profile settlements have included $7.15 million in the shooting death of Sean Bell by police and $8.75 million in the sexual assault of Abner Louima by police.

“Mr. Rubenstein is one of the city’s most successful and respected attorneys,” Brafman said in a statement. “He denies any criminal conduct whatsoever in connection with this matter and we are confident that when the investigation is completed, it will be closed without the filing of any criminal charges.”

On Monday afternoon detectives searched the apartment where the alleged rape took place and carried out neary a dozen brown paper evidence bags.

Just hours before, the Garner family met with Sharpton and the National Action Network’s general council, Michael Hardy, to discuss the allegations against Rubenstein and decide if they should allow him to continue to represent them, spokeswoman Jacky Johnson said in a statement.

The family will announce their decision on Saturday at Sharpton’s Action rally, she said.

On Sunday, Sharpton told the New York Daily News he will push on with Garner case regardless of the outcome of the allegations against Rubenstein.

“The person who has made the accusation is a top official of the National Action Network. So how do I respond, when you have one person who’s a top official who’s been very, very helpful to us, making an accusation against someone who we’ve known and we’ve worked with on several cases?” Sharpton told the News. “I don’t cut no corners. We do not justify disrespecting women. Doesn’t mean you’re guilty, but it does mean if you are, there ain’t no place for that in our community.”

-With Maria Alvarez