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WEBVTT EEP THIS VICTIM OUT OF COURT.AN INDICTMENT ACCUSES THE LAWYERAND INTERPRETER OF TRYING TO PAYOFF AND SCARE OFF A RAPE VICTIM. >> IT IS A WITNESS INTIMIDATION CASE. >> THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SAYS BOTH THE OFFER OF MONEY AND FEARWERE USED TO GET THE DEFENDANT IN THE RAPE CASE OFF THE HOOK.THE INDICTMENT SAYS THE LAWYER WAS RECORDED TELLING THE VICTIM AND HER HUSBAND THE DEFENDANT COULD PROVIDE THEM WITH $3,000 IF THEY DID NOT SHOW UP TO COURTAND THE CASE GOT THROWN OUT.THE LAWYER AND THE SPREPTER CITED THE CURRENT CLIMATE FOR IMMIGRANTS IN THE U.S. THE INDICTMENT SAYS.THEY NOTED THE INCREASE IN ARRESTS BY IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT AGENTS.NEITHER HAS LEGAL STATUS ACCORDING TO SOMEONE FAMILIAR WITH THE CASE.>> YOU KNOW HOW THINGS ARE WITH TRUMP'S LAWS NOW THE LAWYER IS QUOTED AS SAYING.SOMEONE GOES TO COVERT AND, BOOM, THEY ARE TAKEN AWAY.>> YOU HAVE SOMEBODY WHO IS TRYING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE FEAR IN TIM GRANT COMMUNITY THATHAS BEEN RAMPANT SINCE THE ELECTION LAST NOVEMBER.AND USE IT TO GET A RAPIST OFF THE HOOK.>> THE INDICTMENT SAYS THAT THE LAWYER AND ALSO SAID AND SUGGESTED TO THE CLIENT -- TO THE RAPE VICTIM THAT SHE AND HERHUSBAND JUST TAKE OUT HIS CLIENT.TAKE REVENGE ON THEIR OWN.FIND HIM AND WEAR HIM OUT JUST LIKE THE LAWYER SAYS HE WOULD DOIN HIS HOME COUNTRY OF GREECE.THE LAWYER AND THE INTERPRETER BOTH APPEARED IN COURT THIS AFTERNOON IN THE COURTHOUSE EASTDOWNTOWN.THEY'RE BOTH RELEASED PENDING

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A Baltimore defense attorney and an interpreter are facing charges Wednesday that they intimidated a rape victim. An indictment accuses lawyer Christos Vasiliades and Edgar Rodriguez, an interpreter, of trying to pay off and scare off a rape victim with the fear of deportation. Attorney General Brian Frosh said both the offer of money and fear were used to get the defendant in the rape case off the hook. "It is a witness intimidation case," Frosh said. The indictment said Vasiliades was recorded telling the victim and her husband, "The defendant could provide them with $3,000 if they did not show up to court and the case got thrown out." The lawyer and the interpreter cited the current climate for immigrants in the U.S., according to the indictment. They noted the increase in arrests by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. Neither the victim nor the rape suspect has legal status, according to someone familiar with the case. The lawyer is quoted as saying: "You know how things are with Trump's laws now. Someone goes to court, and boom, they get taken away." "You have somebody who is trying to take advantage of the fear in the immigrant community that has been rampant since the election last November and use it to get a rapist off the hook," Frosh said. The indictment said Vasiliades also suggested to the victim and her husband just take revenge on the defendant, find him and wear him out just like, the lawyer said, he would do in his home country of Greece. Both Vasiliades and Rodriguez have been released pending trial. Refresh wbaltv.com and our app, and watch 11 News for late-breaking updates to this developing story.