Weinstein at centre of civil rights probe

N.Y. attorney general opened case against mogul’s firm

ALBANY, N.Y.— State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman announced a civil rights investigation on Monday into the Weinstein Co. following sexual harassment and assault allegations against its co-founder, Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein.

As part of the investigation, the prosecutor’s office issued a subpoena seeking company records on harassment complaints and legal settlements to determine whether any civil rights and anti-discrimination laws were broken.

“No New Yorker should be forced to walk into a workplace ruled by sexual intimidation, harassment or fear,” Schneiderman said.

Weinstein Co.’s media relations office said the company had no comment on the investigation.

One of Weinstein’s former assistants in London, Zelda Perkins, spoke to the Financial Times about what she said was repeated sexual harassment toward her. Weinstein walked around nude in front of her, asked her to be in the room when he bathed and the producer would often try to pull her into bed when she went into his room to wake him up.

She told the paper she split a £250,000 ($417,000) settlement with another woman who she claimed was sexually assaulted by the producer.

Perkins said that she was required to sign a non-disclosure agreement — a copy of which she was not allowed to keep.

Police in Los Angeles, New York City and London are also investigating Weinstein over allegations of sex abuse in those cities.

The allegations have prompted calls in Albany, N.Y. to crack down on harassment. Democratic Assembly member Nily Rozic of Queens proposed legislation that would make designers, photographers, retailers and others liable for harassment experienced by models. Democratic Assembly member Linda Rosenthal of Manhattan, proposed legislation that would make companies ineligible for state tax incentives if they fail to address chronic harassment in the workplace.