OTTAWA—Lawyers for Senator Patrick Brazeau said they plan to mount a strong defence in court but have no plans to plead his case to the media.

“A not guilty plea has been registered and we have all intentions to contest vigorously these allegations,” Michel Swanston, one of his defence attorneys, told reporters at the Gatineau, Que. courthouse Friday morning.

“We have no intention of arguing this case in the media and are appalled by the fact that a version of facts is already circulating . . . before the trial has commenced,” Swanston said.

“As for Senator Brazeau, he is weathering the storm with his family and would appreciate that we respect his privacy during this instance. He is adamant to return to his functions after this situation has passed to represent the interests of Canadian citizens before the Canadian senate,” Swanston said.

Brazeau later posted his own statement about his case on Twitter.

“I will fight these charges against me to prove my innocence. I shall return!” Brazeau tweeted Friday afternoon.

Brazeau is facing charges of assault and sexual assault after he was arrested at his Gatineau home on Feb. 7.

Court documents allege police arrived at the home after an argument over aboriginal issues turned violent, with the alleged victim, who cannot be identified publicly, telling police Brazeau pushed her down the stairs hard enough that the railing she was holding onto broke off.

Brazeau has formally pleaded not guilty to both charges and none of the allegations have been proven in court.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper expelled Brazeau from the Conservative caucus after learning of his arrest that morning.

The following week, the Senate forced Brazeau on a leave of absence while he faces the charges. It has taken over his expense accounts, but he will still receive his annual salary of $132,300.

Swanston and lawyer Gérard Larocque appeared in court on behalf of Brazeau on Friday and asked for a postponement because they believed they were missing some information in the evidence file.

Sylvain Petitclerc, the prosecutor, told reporters the defence team had full disclosure since Feb. 12 and suggested they were using delay tactics.

“They have not even told me what they are asking for. They will think about it and they will send me a letter in a few days,” Petitclerc told reporters at the courthouse Friday morning.

“I have no idea at the moment what they could be missing in their eyes,” said Petitclerc, who added he believes the file is “100-per-cent” complete.

Swanston and Larocque did not take questions from the media after delivering their statement Friday morning.

The proceedings have been delayed till June 10.

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Brazeau is also one of three senators whose secondary residence living expense claims were referred to external auditors over allegations raised in the media last fall that they were inappropriately billing taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars for their time spent in the Ottawa area.

The others are Conservative Senator Mike Duffy and Liberal Senator Mac Harb.

The Senate also asked external auditors to review the travel expenses of Conservative Senator Pamela Wallin.

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