NEW YORK _ The defense attorney for former New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman predicted Thursday that her client would avoid prosecution despite the abuse charges leveled by four women.
"Eric appreciates the serious allegations that have been made against him and we will respond to them appropriately at the proper time," read the brief statement from lawyer Isabelle Kirshner.
"While we are confident that this investigation will result in no criminal charges, should charges be brought, we intend to defend our client vigorously."
Veteran defense attorney Kirshner was hired Wednesday by Schneiderman, who resigned two days earlier after a scathing article in The New Yorker alleged that he had slapped, choked and demeaned four women.
Kirshner added that she expected special prosecutor Madeline Singas, the Nassau County district attorney, to conduct "a fair, thorough and unbiased investigation."
Her statement was released shortly after Singer promised to leave "no stone unturned" in her investigation of Schneiderman, a two-term Democrat whose hopes for a third term disappeared as the scandal exploded.
At a press conference in Gov. Andrew Cuomo's New York City office, Singas described the allegations laid out by four women against Schneiderman as "extremely disturbing and very troubling."
"When the governor called and asked me if I would take on this matter, I told him I would do so and I would begin an investigation that is thorough, that is fair, that is swift, and make sure everyone in the system is dealt with integrity and with dignity," she said.
Singas said she would also look into Schneiderman's old office.
"This is a public official," she said. "These allegations are very serious. If at any time he used his office or office resources in furtherance of alleged crimes, that is something we'll look at."
Asked if she's concerned about that possibility, Signas said, "Everything is a concern at this point, yes."
Depending on the evidence, Schneiderman could face charges including harassment, assault, sexual assault, kidnapping, obstruction of breathing and strangulation, the prosecutor said.
Given that the probe just started, she called it an "exercise in futility" to outline which specific charges Schneiderman might be facing.
Sitting nearby was Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance Jr., who was upset that Cuomo yanked the case from his office. Also at the event was Suffolk County Tim Sini, who had opened up a probe into Schneiderman as well.
Vance and Sini promised to yield to Singas.
Cuomo, who had been sniping with Vance for several days over the issue, said that "we want the people of the state to know that no one is above the law and the law will be justly and swiftly prosecuted."
"The law is the law, and everyone is subject to the law, and that includes the former attorney general."
He said he has total confidence in her ability to handle the probe into Schneiderman.
Both Sini and Singas praised Vance.
So did Cuomo, who said Vance has done a "magnificent job" even as he doubled down on his belief that having the Manhattan DA's office handle the Schneiderman case would give an appearance of a conflict of interest.
That's because the governor had asked the AG's office to review the Manhattan district attorney's relationship with the New York Police Department special victims division and the impact it had on no charges being brought against disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein.
"Perceptions matter," Cuomo said. "I don't want any perception of a conflict of interest. Emotions are high, feelings are high, suspicions are high. It's very important we do what we do right and fairly and without raising any perception issues whatsoever."
Vance dismissed the tensions as a question of process and communication. But he promised to full cooperation with Singas, who he said he has total confidence in.
"Process is important but justice for victims of crime in Manhattan is my top priority," he said.
Vance had previously complained that any conflict of interest was because Cuomo politicized the situation. Vance argued there was no longer a conflict because Schneiderman resigned Tuesday.
Cuomo's counsel, Alphonso David, laid the problems back on Vance's lap.
"Your original actions and omissions in the Harvey Weinstein matter caused the distrust of women's organizations," David wrote in a letter to Vance. "That distrust is your creation, not ours."
The unity event was meant to tamp down the tensions, sources say.
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