‘Assault’ judge: Vid says I’m right

A judge criminally charged with assault for drunkenly slugging a Legal Aid lawyer outside a Manhattan party insists the trash-talking defense attorney started the beef — and says he has the video to prove it.

Probation Judge Robert Beltrani (pictured), 54, was arrested for slugging lawyer Sam Roberts, 48, on Oct. 20 and was suspended without pay pending the outcome of a disciplinary hearing.

The surveillance video, a copy of which was obtained by The Post, shows Roberts exit a Chelsea bar at 115 W. 18th St. and walk directly over to Beltrani as he chats with the party’s host, lawyer Andrew Bernstein.

After a 50-second conversation, Roberts clearly shoves Beltrani with his left hand before the feisty jurist nails him with a right cross to the face.

“It was not a fight I wanted,” Beltrani told The Post.

“I’m 54 years old. I’m extremely overweight. It was after he hit me that I hit him,” he said.

Beltrani, a former Queens Republican state Senate candidate, said he was enraged by Roberts’ explanation to the press and prosecutors.

“He claims he didn’t provoke me and that he was turning to walk away when I hit him,” the judge said. “It’s clear on the video that’s not true.”

Roberts, who suffered a black eye and separated shoulder, did not immediately return a request for comment.