Lawyer for 'That '70s Show' star Danny Masterson says rape case 'politically motivated'

A lawyer for “That ’70s Show” star Danny Masterson claimed the actor’s rape charges were “politically motivated” Monday before a Los Angeles judge pushed arraignment in the case to January.

The former sitcom star is accused of forcibly raping three women in separate incidents at his Hollywood Hills home between 2001 and 2003.

His new arraignment in set for Jan. 6.

Masterson, 44, did not show up in person for what was supposed to be his arraignment in downtown Los Angeles. He gave attorney Thomas Mesereau the right to make decisions on his behalf, the lawyer said.

The judge agreed to the two-month postponement citing discovery evidence prosecutors had not yet turned over to the defense.

“We think this case has already had enough publicity sufficient to prejudice any jury pool,” Mesereau argued as he asked that media be removed from the courtroom ahead of the hearing.

“There’s been politics behind (this case),” he said. “We think it’s a politically motivated case.”

According to prosecutors, Masterson raped the first victim, an unidentified 23-year-old woman, between January and December 2001.

He then allegedly raped a 28-year-old woman in April 2003 and a 23-year-old woman between October and December of the same year, The Los Angeles district attorney’s office said.

If convicted as charged, he faces up to 45 years to life in state prison.

Prosecutors previously said they declined to file sexual assault charges in two other cases involving Masterson due to insufficient evidence and the statute of limitations.

Mesereau previously claimed Masterson is “absolutely not guilty.”

“Mr. Masterson is innocent,” Mesereau said in a statement after the charges were first announced in June. “We’re confident that he will be exonerated when all the evidence finally comes to light and witnesses have the opportunity to testify.”

Masterson is best known for playing Hyde on “That ’70s Show” alongside his sitcom co-stars Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis, Laura Prepon, Topher Grace and Wilmer Valderrama.

He was sued last year by ex-girlfriends Chrissie Bixler and Marie Riales and two Jane Doe plaintiffs in a civil complaint that alleged sexual assault and harassment.

The women also named the Church of Scientology, of which Masterson is a lifelong member, as a co-defendant.

The complaint alleges public stalking, home surveillance, hacking, property vandalism, vehicle pursuit, identity theft and threats.

Bixler went on to marry The Mars Volta singer Cedric Bixler-Zavala and, in January, the couple accused Masterson and the church of killing two of their dogs with poison.

Masterson called the civil lawsuit “beyond ridiculous” in a statement last year. He claimed he planned to countersue anyone “who jumped on the bandwagon for the damage they caused me and my family.”

He was dropped from the Netflix show “The Ranch” when the allegations first surfaced.

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