Christy Mihos' attorney speaks out outside of court

YARMOUTH, Mass. (WHDH) -- No sign of former gubernatorial candidate Christy Mihos in court Wednesday, but his estranged wife was there with their daughter by her side as she faced harsh criticism from her husband’s attorney.

“To go to this extreme to gain an advantage in divorce is a disgrace,” said Edward Ryan, Jr.

Behind closed doors, Andrea Mihos apparently testified under oath that Christy Mihos shoved her during an argument at their plush West Yarmouth home July 10, 2011.

“This is part of a grand scheme in divorce planning to gain an advantage in divorce that quite frankly is going to backfire,” said Ryan.

Christy Mihos’ attorney said his client denies he ever struck his wife, certainly not in a car in Florida in February -- where Mihos and his wife allegedly struggled over her iPhone as she tried to record threats he was making during an argument over whether he had hired prostitutes and strippers to have sex.

“She retracted that story in terms of the cell phone. She said she hit herself in the face in the struggle over the cell phone. The police in Florida didn’t pursue it because she gave so many inconsistent statements, as she has in this case,” said Ryan.

Andrea Mihos denied that her claim of assault was about a money grab.

Christy Mihos’ lawyer said Andrea Mihos has had complete control of their finances for years.

“He gave up that control to his wife, yeah, he trusted her and this is what it got him,” said Ryan.