Attorney general of New York starts Weinstein inquiry
New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has launched a civil rights investigation into the Weinstein Co. following dozens of sexual harassment allegations against the studio’s cofounder, Harvey Weinstein.
The state’s top prosecutor issued a subpoena Monday as part of an investigation into whether officials at the New Yorkbased film and television company violated state civil rights and New York City human rights laws.
“No New Yorker should be forced to walk into a workplace ruled by sexual intimidation, harassment or fear,” Scheiderman said in a statement. “If sexual harassment or discrimination is pervasive at a company, we want to know.”
The attorney general’s subpoena is seeking all documents related to complaints of sexual harassment and other types of discrimination against employees, said a person familiar with the probe not authorized to comment. The probe is also looking for all records of how such complaints were handled by the company, and all documents concerning settlements.
In addition, the subpoena is seeking the company’s records related to hiring and casting criteria.
Representatives for the Weinstein Co. did not respond to requests for comment.
The attorney general’s move comes about two weeks after Weinstein Co. fired its namesake cochairman following the publication of sexual harassment allegations in the New York Times.
The subpoena represents a new front in the growing legal battles involving Weinstein and the company he co-founded in 2005. The scope of the investigation could expose the Weinstein Co. and its officials to numerous potential civil and criminal cases, said Albany, N.Y.based attorney Paul DerOhannesian, who specializes in sexual assault cases.
“Once they investigate, it opens the door to a multiplicity of potential liabilities,” DerOhannesian said. “In a way, it’s like a camel’s nose under a tent.”
Since then, police in Los Angeles, New York and London have opened criminal investigations.