(WHAS11) - The woman charged with trying to extort money from Rick Pitino speaks out, saying she's the victim.
Karen Sypher will go to trial next month, facing charges of extortion and lying to the FBI.
She was arraigned Wednesday and pleaded not guilty.
But before Sypher walked into court, her supporters made their opinions known.
Karen Sypher says she didn't know those supporters were going to show up, but says she is stronger because of them.Karen Sypher came out of her arraignment looking calm and feeling good because of the supporters rallying around her side.
"We're out here today to protest against Rick Pitino. Karen Sypher is innocent. There's two sides to every story and nobody knows the whole truth," says Sypher supporter Rachel Woolley.
The truth, according to Sypher, has not been made public.
Despite accusations against Pitino by Sypher, her family and supporters, WHAS11 will still not report that information because no charges have been filed against Pitino.
WHAS11 asked Sypher and her attorney why she hasn't gone to authorities with her allegations.
Her attorney says she has no comment, but she did say something.
"I feel like there's been just a very, very dark cloud over my family that follows that's so unjust, it's just unfair," says Karen Sypher.
Sypher is charged with trying to extort money from Coach Pitino and for lying to the FBI.
A criminal complaint says Sypher asked Pitino for money, cars and her kids' college tuition paid and in return, she would protect his name for life.
The complaint also says she had another man make threatening phone calls to Pitino.
She says will fight these federal charges.
"Through the very end I will not break," says Sypher.
Her trial date is set for the end of June.
Her attorney says they may request a change of venue in this case because of the publicity of the charges against Sypher.
