Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg said during an online press conference that without the video recordings of Kraft, 79, and two dozen other men paying for sex at the Orchids of Asia Day Spa, there wasn't enough evidence to convict them.
He could still face suspension or other punishment from the National Football League. The NFL did not respond to a request for comment and the Patriots declined comment. Shortly after being charged, Kraft issued an apology for his actions. Aronberg said that even though the charges were dropped against the spa's customers, the felony cases against its owner and manager will proceed using evidence such as bank records.
He said no one should doubt what occurred there. The attorney for owner Hua Zhang was surprised to learn of Aronberg's decision to proceed against her client, saying prosecutors told a judge they needed the recordings for the case to stand.
The attorneys for manager Lei Wang did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment. The women have pleaded not guilty to deriving income from prostitution.
The recordings, which have not been made public, are the only known evidence the men paid for sex. Of the other men charged, 19 cases were dropped. Another man went home to Norway. Aronberg said that while he disagreed with the court's decision, he respected it. Attorney David Weinstein, a former prosecutor who has followed the case, told The Associated Press that the police and the prosecutors clearly had sufficient evidence to get the warrants allowing the cameras to be secretly installed, but didn't follow rules designed to protect the privacy of the innocent.
