No charges for Weinstein

The Manhattan district attorney has decided not to bring criminal charges against film mogul Harvey Weinstein for an incident in which he was alleged to have groped an Italian model.

The office of Cyrus Vance said Friday that it wouldn’t pursue legal action after the model, 22-year-old Ambra Battilana, accused Weinstein of groping her and putting a hand under her skirt in a meeting at his downtown Manhattan office two weeks ago.

“This case was taken seriously from the outset, with a thorough investigation conducted by our Sex Crimes Unit,” said Joan Vollero, a spokeswoman at Vance’s office. She added: “After analyzing the available evidence, including multiple interviews with both parties, a criminal charge is not supported.”

On Friday afternoon, Weinstein released a statement through a spokeswoman, Risa Heller, saying, “We are pleased this episode is behind us.”

Weinstein, co-founder of the former Miramax Pictures and current entertainment producer and distributor the Weinstein Co., could have faced misdemeanor charges had the district attorney opted to pursue legal action.

Battilana previously had been involved in a sex-scandal case against former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi in her home country. Weinstein had met Battilana the night before the alleged incident at the opening of the New York Spring Spectacular, a live show he is producing at Radio City Music Hall.

The controversy came at a busy time for Weinstein, with his historical drama about art stolen by Nazis, “Woman in Gold,” currently in theaters, and “Finding Neverland,” based on the hit 2004 movie, set to open on Broadway on Wednesday.