Harvey Weinstein's lawyer ‘wants out of criminal case’

Harvey Weinstein's lawyer wants to quit the case, a source with direct knowledge told NBC News on Monday, which could delay the disgraced movie mogul's rape trial.

Defense attorney Benjamin Brafman would need Manhattan Supreme Court Justice James Burke's approval to leave the case, which is now set for trial on May 6.

Brafman was not expected to file those papers on Monday, but he has no intention of representing Weinstein any further, sources said. It wasn't immediately clear what led to the split, but reports recently surfaced indicating the two had been fighting.

Juda Engelmayer, a spokesman for Weinstein, on Monday declined to say whether Brafman was quitting. But he said Weinstein has recently been meeting with attorneys to build a team with expertise on various aspects of the upcoming trial.

Weinstein is charged with raping an unidentified woman inside a hotel room in 2013 and performing a forcible sex act on another woman in 2006. The movie producer, who remains free on $1 million bail, has steadfastly denied all allegations of forcing non-consensual sex on the accusers.

A spokesman for the Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance declined to comment on Monday.