‘Police prepare to arrest Weinstein’

HARVEY Weinstein is reportedly facing arrest following an investigation into allegations he sexually assaulted numerous women.

According to reports, investigators in Manhattan are preparing to arrest the disgraced movie mogul and he is expected to surrender to authorities.

Scores of women have come forward to allege sexual misconduct by Weinstein, ranging from inappropriate comments to rape.

It was reported earlier this week that federal prosecutors in New York had launched a probe into the allegations, which is separate to the investigation currently under way by the Manhattan District Attorney, the film producer’s lawyer said in a court filing.

In a declaration filed on May 3 in the Weinstein Co’s bankruptcy proceedings, lawyer Benjamin Brafman said Weinstein was a “principal target” of an investigation being carried out by the US attorney’s office in Manhattan.

He added: “I am trying my very best to persuade both the federal and state prosecutors that he should not be arrested and or indicted, because he did not knowingly violate the law.”

Mr Brafman added that the allegations facing Weinstein are “entirely without merit”.

Weinstein is under criminal investigation in New York, Los Angeles and London.

He has not been charged with any crimes, though police in New York have said publicly that they believe there is enough evidence to make an arrest.

Meanwhile, Gwyneth Paltrow has said former boyfriend Brad Pitt threatened Weinstein after an alleged incident of sexual misconduct.

The 45-year-old actress told The Howard Stern Show she was “blindsided”.

She claimed she was 22 when Weinstein placed his hands on her at a hotel and suggested they go to a bedroom for massages.

Paltrow said she told Pitt what happened and the actor confronted Weinstein at a Broadway opening.

She added: “It was like the equivalent of throwing him against the wall.”

Paltrow said Pitt leveraged his fame and power to protect her at a time when she had neither.

The two, who were briefly engaged, broke up in 1997.

Representatives for Weinstein and Pitt did not immediately respond to calls seeking comment.

TIED UP: An alligator lies outside of the School of Nursing building at the Alcorn State University campus in Natchez, Mississippi. Wildlife officers restrained the nine-foot gator before wrangling it into the back of a pickup truck for removal.

Weinstein.