The sex abuse case against former city health commissioner and Centers for Disease Control chief Dr. Thomas Frieden could be headed to trial next year.
Frieden, who is accused of groping a woman’s backside in his Brooklyn Heights apartment last year, made a brief appearance in Brooklyn Supreme Court Tuesday, where the judge set a possible trial date of Jan. 17.
The Obama-era ex-CDC boss stood anxiously before the judge, swaying back and forth, during his brief appearance, then bolted out of the courtroom afterward and declined to comment.
The married dad of two in August pleaded not guilty to charges of third-degree sexual abuse and forcible touching, as well as harassment, for allegedly groping a 55-year-old woman.
In his last court appearance in October, prosecutors said they had not made a plea deal, but a person familiar with the case said Tuesday that discussions are still ongoing.
The unnamed alleged victim, a longtime friend of Frieden and his family, was at his Montague Street pad for a get-together with another couple on Oct. 20, 2017, when he allegedly squeezed her behind as the group was getting ready to leave at around 11 p.m., sources previously told The Post.
The woman filed a report about the incident on July 7, 2018, and Frieden turned himself in to police on Aug. 24.
“This allegation does not reflect Dr. Frieden’s public or private behavior or his values over a lifetime of service to improve health around the world,” his spokeswoman said at the time.
Frieden faces up to a year behind bars.