He was arraigned in court Thursday morning.
Prosecutors accuse him of threatening to fire then-City Attorney Doug Sloan, unless Sloan worked exclusively for Esparza and the council majority.
Sloan told a few people at City Hall about the April conversation, and described it to Action News in a rare email.
Fresno city council president on extortion: 'No wrongdoing'
Fresno city council president on extortion: 'No wrongdoing'
Esparza's defense attorneys say he never intended to extort Sloan.
They also argue Sloan never should have discussed the conversation publicly since he was the attorney for city council.
A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for November 10.